I AM and the Power of God

I AM and the Power of God- Exodus 3

There are two main questions asked in this chapter, both by Moses, and both equally important. These two questions are questions every human being should ask of themselves.

Who am I?

Who are you?

John Calvin once wrote, “Our wisdom, insofar as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” (Calvin, Institutes, 4)

We are dealing with both of these questions because they arise out of our chapter, and we would do well to ask ourselves these questions this morning. Perhaps you have already asked and answered both questions. In that case, this chapter will help reiterate some key components, which will then help us live more faithfully and fruitfully for God.

In the case that you have never consider either question, this chapter will present to you compelling reasons to do so. My hope and prayer is that all of use can, after looking through this chapter, answer these questions in accordance with God’s truth.

In answering these questions we will see that

As God reveals Himself in great power, we are called to respond in obedience and enter an unimaginable relationship with our Creator and Redeemer

I. God Reveals Himself in Great Power (3:1-6)

The first truth we see in this chapter, and truly the most remarkable one in divine Scripture, is that God reveals Himself. In this chapter it is through great power (i.e., an unburnable burning bush). In other Scriptures, it is through the power of Creation (Gen. 1), or through the power over nature (Jonah) or the power over Satan (Job 1-2). He also reveals Himself in a still, quiet voice (1 Kings 19: 12). He reveals Himself through shadows, such as the ark of God, the tabernacle, temple vestments (Col. 2:17). He reveals Himself through His incarnation (Matt. 1:24-25).

Central to all of these (and the many more left unmentioned) is the wonderful truth that God reveals Himself. He makes Himself known. He is holy (3:5), which includes a moral perfection, but goes beyond that to address His transcendence, or separateness. You may think of your sports heroes of being separate from regular people like us, but the difference between God and human beings is infinite.

If God did not condescend, as we noted last week, we would never know Him. But God is good, and He makes Himself known in a way that we can understand, though not fully grasp. Paul teaches this in Romans 1:18-23. God has made Himself known in great power, primarily through creation. All human beings have access to nature. They can see creation.

We know that not all accept this as proof for God’s existence. These individuals refuse to acknowledge God’s existence, choosing to follow someone like Richard Dawkins, who believes that all that exists is physical and leaves no room for God of any kind.

But as we noted in the beginning, we cannot know ourselves unless we know God, and we cannot know God unless He reveals Himself to us! Rejoice that God has revealed Himself, that the I AM sent Moses, recorded His Word for us centuries later, welcoming us into a relationship with Him. God has revealed Himself, but for a purpose, for our obedience.

II. We are Called to Respond in Obedience- 3:7-12

God reveals Himself, but this is not simply meant to increase our knowledge. There is a purpose, just as our salvation is not simply to keep us out of hell, God’s revelation of Himself is a call for obedience. God created us for His purpose, His glory. God commissions Moses for the task of leading Israel out of Egyptian bondage.

God sends Moses to be His tool to accomplish the deliverance of His people. Moses must respond in obedience. This is no different than the obedience called for by God to Abraham (see Gen. 17:1).

Consider Paul’s statement in Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are saved for business.

Or, we know Him to make Him known. As God reveals Himself in great power, we are called to respond in obedience and enter an unimaginable relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.

God calls for Moses to go, and He calls us to go as well (Matt. 28:18-20). He calls for us to observe everything He has commanded us. While there is no such thing as a perfectly obedient Christian, there is equally no such thing as a non-obedient Christian. God has revealed Himself in great power, and we are called to respond in obedience, but that is not all. We are called to enter an unimaginable relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.

III. We are Called to an Unimaginable Relationship- 3: 13-22

Now, we are highlighting one aspect of this section of chapter 2, but there is much going on. The main point is that God is revealing Himself to His people for their obedience and delight in Him. The deliverance is for the purpose of sacrifice, and sacrifice restores the broken relationship between God and people.

Consider how unimaginable this relationship is. The Creator of Heaven and Earth, the One who is unimaginably Holy, the One for Whom we were created to worship and be with, desires to have a relationship with us.

Now consider the complete change in every aspect of Israel’s life. Once there was slavery, now there will be freedom. Once there was destitution, now there will be an abundance of wealth. One there was depression, hopelessness, and despair, now there will be joy, hope, and peace.

Does this sound similar to something you have experienced? You see, the Exodus is a physical event typifying a spiritual reality: the salvation of God’s people. It points to the epic defeat of the world, the flesh, and the devil by Jesus, which enables the exodus of God’s people out of slavery and death into abundant life everlasting.

Listen to how David describes this unimaginable relationship in Psalm 34.

“What a mercy to be called to walk in companionship with One who bears such a name as this! We are in the wilderness, and there we have to meet with trail, sorrow, and difficulty; but, so long as we have the happy privilege of betaking ourselves, at all times and under all circumstances, to One who reveals Himself in His manifold grace, in connection with our every necessity and weakness, we need not fear the wilderness.” C. H. Mackintosh, Notes on the Pentateuch 157