The Name that Changes Us

Exodus 3

There are so many people that do not know who they are and they struggle with their identity, and with their own limitations. They struggle with their past, present, and their future… and live in fear.

But what if… They knew the One Who made them, saved them, and called them into living...?

Moses is about to have this experience with God...

Names mean something to each and every one of us. When we think about a person and their name… we do not simply think about just how easy or difficult it is to say their name. Our minds usually go to something about that person, or to that family… with that family name.

Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.

But what is in view here? A good reputation, marked with integrity and soundness of character.

When people in the Bible are named or renamed… This is describing something about the person. It could be describing some details about who this person is or what this person is about.

For example: Moses - The Name means to be pulled out or to be drawn out of the water. Remember, this is how Moses was found by the Pharaoh’s daughter on the banks of the Nile River. She found the baby and drew him out of the basket, from the waters, and called him Moses.

This is how Names are understood in the Bible. To know the name is to know something about the person. To know the name is to know character. To know the name is to know their position. To know the name is to know their reputation… what they have done, what they have said, how they have lived, what they are known for… their will and desires… and so on and so forth.

But before Moses looks to God’s Name, to know God, and to understand Who God is… He is very quick to first look to himself...

Verse 11 - Who AM I? Who am I that I should go and do this...? This is big. This is huge. Who am I?

This is where we usually start isn’t it… We start with us. We start in the wrong direction, looking at our name, our weakness, sins, character flaws, and so on...

And that is why we end up going in the wrong direction and into bad places.

Listen: The only way we can see ourselves rightly is if we can see our God clearly.

The only way we will ever go in the right direction is if we will see the Way, the Truth, and the Life… The God Who is before us.

The only way that you and I will ever see Him and experience Him is if your eyes will be taken off of you.

Our first question is not… “Who am I?”

Our first question today is… Lord… Who are You.?”

“God… I am afraid. God I am insecure. God, I am not strong. I am not a good speaker. What if I am not persuasive? What if they don’t believe me? What if… I have this background… I have this history… I have this baggage… I cannot do this...”

Our history and our fears tend to shape us… don’t they? As we look to ourselves, our insecurities and fears keep us from living. As we look to ourselves, our inadequacies, failures, and fears keep us from trying, keep us from moving, and attempting.

When? When I am stuck looking at me.

That is where many people are. That is where many people will stay… Until when?

Verse 13 - God… Who are you? God, what is your name? Tell me something about you. Please tell me something about where you are from. Tell me about your status. Please tell me about your character, your power, your integrity… I need to know something about You. I need to know You.

This is where we need to star