“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ – Exodus 3:11
Moses was an unlikely candidate to deliver the slaves from Egypt. His life started in slavery. His mother was forced to hide him. She eventually placed him in a basket and left him in the weeds along the bank of the river. Even when Moses would find a home with the Pharaoh’s daughter, he would have to run away to a foreign land. Moses would commit the crime of murder and lose his home, family, and country. Eventually, Moses would find a new family and begin a new life, tending livestock.
Moses was a slave, an orphan, a fugitive, and a shepherd. This is not the resume of the greatest prophet in Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:10) He was keeping the flock of his father-in-law when he saw the burning bush. As Moses approached the flame, he would hear God speak. Moses would listen as God describes how the people will be delivered to a land “flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:8) Moses had encountered the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had come to save His people.
Moses was amazed and confused. He had heard the voice of the God of creation, but why would God speak to Moses? Why would God use Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh? Moses knew his past and wondered, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
God does not waste time correcting Moses’ thinking. God tells Moses that he will be just fine because God will be with Moses. God changes the perspective of Moses with the phrase, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) No longer would Moses be defined as a slave, an orphan, a fugitive, or a shepherd. Moses would now be a prophet. He would hear God speak and Moses would speak for God.
Moses would lead God’s people to freedom. He would bring them to the promised land. Moses would bring the Hebrew people the law of God. He did this through the strength that comes from the knowledge that God is with us and that we are not alone.
We too can find strength, knowing that we are the people of God. God is with us. Our past does not determine our future. The love and grace of God at work in our world defines who we are, and gives us strength for a future filled with exciting possibilities.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
