God Reveals Himself (Exodus 3:1-15)

Bible Passage: Exodus 3:1-15

Exodus 3 picks up the story 40 years after Moses had tried to solve the problems of the people by his own strength (see Acts 7:30). Over the years since, Moses has settled down into the life of a shepherd, got married to Zipporah and had a son named Gershon. By all appearances, any aspirations of leadership have departed from Moses following his failure years earlier. As is the case for many people, it takes meeting with God for things to turn around for Moses. In this chapter, Moses encounters God in a dramatic way, and God gives Moses a new revelation of just who he is.

God Is Holy: The first indication that Moses had of something strange was when he saw a bush on fire that did not burn up. This striking visual made Moses aware straight away that he was not encountering something ordinary that could be dismissed as coincidence. It readied him for a transcendent encounter. God is awesome (in the true sense of the word) and does not conform with our expectations. As Moses approached the bush, he was instructed to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. This is the first use of the word ‘holy’ in the Bible with reference to God, and the word carries a sense of separation. God is different and set apart from us. He is not trivial and it is right to approach him with reverence and respect. As Moses begins to understand who God is (v6) he hides his face. This has parallels elsewhere in Scripture, such as Adam and Eve hiding in the garden (Genesis 3:8), Isaiah recognising his own sinfulness when he was given a vision of God’s glory (Isaiah 6:5), and Peter telling Jesus to go away from him after he had seen a miracle (Luke 5:8). There is something uncomfortable about being a sinful person in the presence of God’s holiness, and this highlights exactly why we need the cleansing work of Christ on the cross.

God Is With Us: As God introduces himself to Moses, he does so as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. In other words, he is a relational God who has been present with the individuals mentioned. After explaining to Moses his plans to set his people free, and his intention to send Moses to Pharaoh, Moses’ response is to ask ‘Who am I’. This is a natural question to ask, and many of us struggle with imposter syndrome, uncertain that we are the right person for the job. The response that God gives is not to list Moses’ characteristics that qualify him for the job, but simply to assure him that ‘I will be with you’. What qualifies any of us for the things we have been called to is God’s presence with us (Acts 1:8), and the incredible truth of the New Testament is that now God is not only present with leaders like Moses, but with all of his people – male and female, old and young, rich and poor (Acts 2:17-18).

God Is Who He Is: As Moses looks for further reassurance, he asks God to tell him his name, in case the people ask him. God replies in verse 14 with the four Hebrew letters יהוה, transliterated as YHWH (often represented as Yahweh). This name literally means “I AM WHO I AM” or “I WILL BE WHAT IT WILL BE”. Out of reverence it tends to be rendered in all capitals in English translations of the Bible, and is sometimes substituted for “THE LORD”. The significance of giving this name for himself, is that God cannot be defined or pinned down. He is the grounds of all reality and being. If God was named in relation to something else, then he would derive identity from that thing, but by saying that he is who he is, God is saying that he is the ultimate one who exists in his own right and on his terms. It also shows that there is a steadfast consistency to who God is, and he is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Potential Applications:

• This passage leads really well into a time of reverent worship. Perhaps it would be appropriate to kneel before God, or to remove your shoes in his presence.
• You could offer to pray for any with imposter syndrome, that they will get a reassuring sense of God with them, equipping them for what they have been called to.
• You could invite the Spirit to come as you worship, and pray for people to experience the presence of this same God that Moses met with.