The Book of Exodus | Week 03
Week’s Passage: Exodus 3, 4
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Holy Ground
This passage reflects on how people encounter God whether through a dramatic moment or a lifelong awareness. It uses Moses’ story as an example of a powerful, life-changing encounter. Though Moses was born into a Hebrew family and taught about God from a young age, he spent much of his adult life in exile, tending sheep in the desert. His hopes of helping his people had long faded. Then, after forty years, God appeared to him through the Angel of the Lord in a burning bush (Exodus 3). This divine encounter radically changed Moses’ life, calling him from obscurity to become the leader who would deliver Israel from slavery. The narrative shows that even after years of silence, God can intervene unexpectedly and with great purpose.
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Coming to Deliver
In this passage, God calls Moses from the burning bush and reveals His identity as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:5–6). He explains that He has come to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt a plan long foretold (Genesis 15:13–14). Referring to the Israelites as “My people,” God shows His deep concern for them, even though their suffering may have suggested otherwise.
God makes it clear that He Himself will bring about the deliverance, not Moses. When Moses hesitates, feeling unworthy and unsure, God promises a sign but one that will only come after the Israelites are freed: they will worship Him at that very mountain. Moses remains unsure and asks who he should say sent him. In response, God reveals His divine name: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature. This marks a pivotal moment in biblical history and Moses’ calling.
InTerpret
Argue with God
Moses continued to resist God’s call, expressing doubts that the Israelites would believe him (Exodus 4:1). In response, God gave Moses three miraculous signs: turning his staff into a snake, making his hand leprous, and turning water into blood meant to prove that God had truly sent him. Even then, Moses protested that he was not a good speaker. God reminded him that He is the Creator of every person, including those with physical limitations, and that He had chosen Moses on purpose.
Despite God’s reassurances, Moses pleaded for someone else to be sent. This angered God, but He still made a concession appointing Aaron, Moses’ brother, to speak on his behalf. Finally, Moses accepted the mission and returned to Egypt. As God had said, the people believed the signs, recognized that God had seen their suffering, and worshiped Him the great “I AM,” the eternal and compassionate God.
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Who us He
Miracles, while powerful, are not the most effective way to build lasting faith. Though they can reveal God’s presence, people often forget them quickly. Jesus performed many miracles not just to impress, but to reveal who He and His Father truly are. His compassion moved Him to act, as in raising the widow’s son, even without being asked.
Jesus’ identity was central to His mission. In John 8:58, He declared Himself to be the eternal “I AM,” directly linking Himself to God in Exodus 3:14. His miracles validated this identity such as healing the paralytic to prove He could forgive sins.
Throughout His ministry, people questioned who Jesus was, and His actions pointed to the truth. Peter’s confession “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” became the foundation of the Church. Ultimately, Jesus came to be “God with us,” revealing our immense value to God and His desire to save us.
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The Assurance.
Ellen G. White emphasises that Moses, though initially timid and unsure of himself, grew into a powerful leader once he trusted fully in God. His humility and self-distrust made him a fitting instrument for divine service. By accepting God’s call with a willing heart, Moses developed strength, eloquence, and confidence. This transformation shows that anyone, no matter how limited, can achieve true greatness when they rely on God and faithfully accept His responsibilities.
She also points to Jesus as both divine and human our example in obedience and the source of power to obey. The same “I AM” who spoke to Moses from the burning bush came in human form as Jesus. In His divine authority, Jesus assures us of deliverance, strength, and the fulfillment of all God’s promises. “I AM” means we need not fear God is with us and empowers us to live in obedience and victory.
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- To what extent did God see Israel’s oppression, feel their pain, and hear their cries? (Exod. 3:7–10)
- How would you feel if you were an Israelite living before the time of Moses, waiting for deliverance?
- Why do you think God didn’t deliver Israel sooner?
- Why was Moses so reluctant to be the one chosen by God to deliver Israel? (Exod. 3:11; 4:1, 10–13)
