The Life of Moses (4)

What Moses saw at Horeb was a mystery; an insignificant bramble bush was burning but was not consumed. “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush” (verse 4a). The Lord knew what Moses needed, and that was instruction. Therefore, God called him and said, “Moses, Moses.” He was called by his name. The place was holy ground. Moses answered “Here am I.” The Lord had a wonderful message for him. He would be God’s servant—he would be a shepherd for an oppressed people in the wilderness.

A solemn declaration

The LORD told Moses to put off his shoes from off his feet “for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” It was the place of God’s presence. He said to him, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” It was as if the Lord said to Moses, I am the covenant-keeping LORD, and although the condition of Israel is one of great need, I have not forgotten My promise to your fathers. The Lord is also the God whom Moses had loved and feared already for so many years.

He had come to deliver them, “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows” (verse 7). The people of Israel had been brought in such great need in order to be taught to cry to the Lord. Before their affliction they felt quite at home in the land of Goshen; life in Egypt was not so bad. They did not feel so much like strangers in a strange country; there was no longing to return unto the land of their fathers. However, the Lord did not forget His word and would not let His people Israel completely assimilate with the Egyptians.

They were His covenant people, and with a solemn declar ation the Lord said that He had seen their affliction, had heard their cries, and knew of their sorrows. Also, the time had come to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians: “and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey” (verse 8b); “Now therefore” (verse 9a,); also “Come now therefore” (verse 10a). It was the appointed time for the manifestation of God’s faithfulness and the deliverance of an oppressed people.

Then the Lord told Moses, “And I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” This was a clear calling for Moses.

Moses’ answer to the Lord

Yes, if the Lord would have come forty years earlier, Moses would have said, “I am so glad; I have been waiting for it. I am ready.” However, it was not God’s time then, and Moses ran ahead of the Lord. Now it was forty years later—forty years of instruction in the wilderness. Moses had learned something in those forty years. We read that already in verse 6b, “And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” This was evidence that Moses had been humbled—that he knew his unworthiness. He could not stand before a holy God with anything of himself, and when the Lord said that He now would send Moses to Pharaoh, Moses replied, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Now Moses was not so ready; He felt utterly undeserving and unqualified to be God’s servant. Yes, the words “Who am I” show clearly the fruit of the instruction in Midian’s wilderness. Others could do this work much better than he. He was now a broken vessel who had lost his strength and ability; however, that was just the time that he would be a fit instrument in the hand of the Master.

Encouragement

Moses did not have to go forward alone. The almighty God would go with him. Before the Lord Jesus departed to His heavenly throne, He encouraged His Church with the words, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” That was enough for the disciples, for He who promised had not only the right and the authority but also the ability to give what he promised. “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

God’s answer to Moses’ fearful question was, “Certainly I will be with thee.” The Lord had seen the misery of His people but guaranteed that He would fulfill His promise. There was a special token in this promise: “When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” That was the promise of Him who cannot lie. Israel would be gathered around this mountain where God would speak to them by means of Moses in a solemn way.

The certainty of deliverance

Moses still had an objection or, rather, a question from a fearful heart. What must he say to the Israelites when he would tell them that the God of their fathers had sent him? “And they shall say to me, what is His name? What shall I say unto them?” What must Moses then say unto them? God’s servants need the certain knowledge that God has called them and sent them. Where else should they find their hope and their strength? They themselves are but feeble, changeable creatures and not able to fulfill the obligations of the calling which the Lord has laid upon them. They need to be able to say, “God Himself has sent me.” The Lord did not leave His servant without a reassuring answer.

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM” (verse 14a). That should be enough, Moses. I am the unchangeable JEHOVAH, covenant LORD, and I will never be different from whom I am now. Tell the children of Israel, “I AM hath sent me unto you.” What a comfort this is also for God’s servants and people today that, no matter what may change and has changed in the world, in the Church, or even in their own heart, God is faithful to His name. Moses had to proclaim the Being of God as He had revealed Himself in and through Jesus Christ. Christ is also the I AM, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Door of the sheep, the Light of the world, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the True Vine. Blessed are those who may find shelter under His wings also in our perilous times. We read in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” He has promised never to forsake His Church. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Young and old, all other hiding places will be swept away, but in Him there is still a place for those who cannot find any other resting place. He still calls the weary and heavyladen to come unto Him. There is rest and peace; there is communion and fellowship between a holy God and an unholy, unrighteous sinner. Blessed are those who may rest and trust in Him.

(To be continued)

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