God Reveals Himself to Moses

Exodus 3:1-7, 10, 13-15

THE providences of God had operated in the birth and life of Moses. Unknown to himself, he was being prepared to lead his people out of Egyptian bondage, and later to serve as mediator in establishing the Law Covenant with them. Moses was interested in the welfare of the Hebrews, and when he was forty years old interceded on behalf of one who was being oppressed, slaying the oppressor. This led to the necessity of his fleeing from Egypt, and now for forty years he had lived in Midian.

Soon after he arrived in Midian, Moses married the daughter of Jethro, a priest in that land, and he served as keeper of his father-in-law’s flock—a humble, nevertheless honorable occupation. Probably his forty years as a herdsman had been quite uneventful, but without Moses’ knowledge of what was occurring, those years of quiet life in the country were serving to prepare him for an outstanding service on behalf of his people and his God.

In this there is a valuable lesson for all the Lord’s people. We may conclude that days, or weeks, or years, of inactivity so far as direct service in the Lord’s vineyard is concerned are largely wasted. We may be inclined to be impatient, feeling that we should be used more widely in the Lord’s service. We may get the thought that the brethren of our ecclesia do not properly appreciate our abilities. But this is the wrong viewpoint, for the days or years of waiting are usually very valuable ones. By them the Lord may be preparing us for service which otherwise we would not be qualified to render.

It was while active in the service assigned to him by his father-in-law that the “angel of the Lord” appeared to Moses in a flame of fire. Moses was attracted by the flame, since the bush which seemed to be burning was not destroyed. He approached to investigate the phenomenon, and then the Lord spoke to him from the fire. We are not to suppose that the Creator of the universe was actually and personally in that burning bush. It is probably stated in this manner in order to emphasize that the “angel of the Lord” was not speaking for himself, but for God. For comparison, see Genesis 22:15,16

Because the Lord had “come down” and manifested his presence in the burning ‘bush, Moses was told that the ground on which he stood was holy. There had been no chemical change in the composition of the soil, but it was to be considered holy because for the moment it was being used as a meeting place between the Lord and Moses; and important instructions relative to the divine purpose toward the Hebrews were to be given to the coming lawgiver.

The Lord identified himself to Moses as the “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” No doubt Moses had continued to worship the God of his fathers, and to realize that this great One was now speaking to him, indicating that something important was impending; something, moreover, which would be in keeping with the promises God had made to the fathers.

Moses was “afraid,” the account states. This was a natural reaction under the circumstances. This word also contains the thought of reverence. Moses probably felt that he was unworthy to be in the presence of the great Jehovah, and in humility hid his face. Even now we should not assume to enter into the presence of God except through the name and merit of Jesus, our Redeemer.

“I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt,” Lord assured Moses. These afflictions had continued for a long time, and it might have appeared that God was no longer interested in his people. It has always been a severe test of faith to believe that a God of love could permit his human creation to suffer so much. This very thing has caused millions in the world today to lose faith in God. In fact they do not even believe that there is a God.

But God does care! Just as he loved the Israelites, and in due time delivered them from Egyptian bondage, so now he loves all mankind, and in his own time will de liver the people from their bondage to sin and death; while Satan, as represented by Pharaoh, will be bound, and finally destroyed. Just as many years had passed while Moses was being prepared to deliver Israel, so long centuries have passed while the greater than Moses—Jesus, and his body members—have been prepared to be the great Deliverer of all mankind.

Moses hesitated to accept the commission the Lord gave to him. In his humility he inquired, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (vs. 11) But the Lord reassured him, saying, “Certainly I will be with thee.” (vs. 12) This is true in connection with every service which the Lord asks us to render. He could get along without us entirely, but he asks us to serve for our own good, and always grants his strength to make up for our weakness.

Moses was concerned over what the attitude of the Israelites might the be when he told them that he had been sent by the God of their fathers to deliver them from Egyptian bondage. He anticipated that they might ask, “What is his name?” This would seem to indicate that the Israelites had probably forgotten much concerning their heritage as the descendants of Abraham, and knew little of the promises which the Creator had made to him. This was doubtless true of the vast majority, although there would be some devout souls among them who continued to hold to the promises.

In case this question came up, Moses was told to say to the Israelites that “I AM hath sent me unto you.” “I AM THAT I AM,” he said to Moses. In the Hebrew this simply means “I exist,” or “I am the existing One.” It is akin to the name Jehovah, which means “self-existing One.” In other words, the Lord wanted Moses and the Israelites to realize that he had not changed, that he was the One who had visited Abraham and made promises to him, and that he was still alive and was prepared to bless them.

Possibly the background of thought here is that while the Israelites vaguely remembered something about their fathers, and of the promises their God had made to them, so long a time had passed since they had seen any evidence of his existence that they were skeptical, and when Moses would claim to represent him, they would ask in derision, “Who is he?”—we have heard about God, and the promises he was supposed to have made to our fathers, but how do we know that he even exists? So God told Moses to assure them that he did exist, that the existing One had now come to deliver them.

Some theologians, in an attempt to prove that Jehovah and Jesus are the same person, couple this name “I AM” with the statement made by Jesus when he said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) But this is a very farfetched interpretation. All Jesus was saying was that he existed before Abraham did, and this was true, because as the Logos, or “Word,” he was the “beginning of the creation of God.” (John 1:1; Rev. 3:14) Jesus was not explaining what his name was in the past, or at any other time, but merely that he had had a prehuman existence, and lived long before Abraham had lived, whereas Moses was told that he could identify Abraham’s God by saying that he was the existing one, the “I AM.” The two statements pertain to entirely different subjects.

That the expression “I AM” was simply intended to assure the Israelites that the God of their fathers did still exist, is shown in verse 15, which reads: “And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” Here the name “Lord God” is Jehovah God. He was Abraham’s God, he is our God, he is the ever-existing God—“from everlasting to everlasting.” (Ps. 90:2) The Israelites had suffered for a long time, but their God still lived, and now would deliver them.

QUESTIONS

How old was Moses when God spoke to him from the burning bush? Had his years in Midian been wasted?

In what sense was the ground surrounding the burning bush, “holy”?

How do we know that God loves suffering humanity?

What is the meaning of the name “I AM,” and why was Moses instructed to use this as an identification of Jehovah?

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