The Calling of the Lord

The meditation today is from Exodus 3:1-15 NIV:

[1] "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. [2] There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. [3] So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight---why the bush does not burn up.” [4] When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

[5] “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” [6] Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

[7] The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. [8] So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey---the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. [9] And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. [10] So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

[11] But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

[12] And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain. ”

[13] Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

[14] God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

[15] God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers---the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob---has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation."

A couple of quick thoughts: First, Moses wrote Exodus and its interesting how he writes about His earliest interactions with the Lord.  As I read through the rest of Exodus, I see a growing relationship and familiarity with how the Lord works and speaks.  I think that is encouraging, as it shows the reality of relationship.  Whenever we are in relationship, we see growth over time and through interaction.

Secondly, Moses was comfortable asking God for clarification and questions.  I think we sometimes psych ourselves out in relating to God, or hearing. Word from the Lord, and don't think we can ask for clarification or understanding.  I think the Lord likes that, for He clearly wants us to be successful, and that is hard to be if we don't understand His plan and purpose.  I know that I have definitely learned to ask questions, to seek clarification  and understanding, knowing the Lord will treat me patiently and with love.

I always thought the story of Moses was interesting, as he was raised in the Pharaoh's household, and was similar to a prince of Egypt, yet when the Lord decided to send him back to Egypt to speak to Pharaoh he didn't feel qualified, or able to speak.  I think he was uniquely positioned to address pharaoh, but it seems like Moses almost forgot who he was, what his upbringing was and his own abilities.  I think this is not uncommon, especially when we have spent time away from a calling, or been in the wilderness.  We almost forget who we are in Christ, and shift into some kind of survival mode.  It is so important to hold onto our identity in Christ, for it keeps us engaged and on track.  We often want to disqualify ourselves, but God sees us differently and will always take us back, and draw us into who we are in Him, and what He purposed for us.  He is patient, and merciful, in spite of our failures, wanderings and mistakes.

Finally, I love the way the Lord draws us, with Moses it was a bush that didn't burn.  For each of us, it might be different as we are all unique, but the Lord draws each of us, patiently drawing us, showing up in our lives over and over, and never relenting.

What an awesome God we have!