Meditations in Exodus
Exodus 3:16-17 reads, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”
In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God expressed his call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance for His people Israel. In verse 11 Moses responded with the question, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” In verse 12 the Lord God answered Moses’ question by promising to be with Moses and to enable Moses in fulfilling His call. Then in verse 13 Moses asked a second question – “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” To this question the Lord God gave answer in verse 14-15, declaring – “I AM THAT I AM.” “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”
Even so, on the ground of this declaration, the Lord God then instructed Moses to “go, and gather the elders of Israel together,” and to deliver the message of verses 16-22 unto them. Herein it is worthy of notice that although this message certainly pertained unto the entire nation of Israel, it was to be delivered specifically unto the elders of Israel, unto the leadership of Israel. Indeed, Exodus 3:16-22 provides encouragement and exhortation to those who serve in leadership for God’s people.
Exodus 3:16-17 reads, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”
In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God expressed his call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance for His people Israel. In verse 11 Moses responded with the question, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” In verse 12 the Lord God answered Moses’ question by promising to be with Moses and to enable Moses in fulfilling His call. Then in verse 13 Moses asked a second question – “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” To this question the Lord God gave answer in verse 14-15, declaring – “I AM THAT I AM.” “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”
Even so, on the ground of this declaration, the Lord God then instructed Moses to “go, and gather the elders of Israel together,” and to deliver the message of verses 16-22 unto them. Herein it is worthy of notice that although this message certainly pertained unto the entire nation of Israel, it was to be delivered specifically unto the elders of Israel, unto the leadership of Israel. Indeed, Exodus 3:16-22 provides encouragement and exhortation to those who serve in leadership for God’s people.
I Know Personally of Your Need (The Lord’s Personal Care)
In Exodus 3:16 the Lord God instructed Moses, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.” The Lord our God, the “I AM THAT I AM,” surely is with us and surely knows all of the tribulation and trouble that we experience. Yea, the Lord God over all surely visits in a personal manner with His own faithful servants, in order that He might see and know in a personal manner the tribulations and troubles that we face. Indeed, He visits in such a personal manner with His own faithful servants in order that He might personally join with them in the experience of their afflictions and sorrows. He never leaves, nor forsakes His own. He ever cares for His own. His tender mercies and compassions for His own never fail.
I Promise to Help You in Your Need (The Lord’s Promised Help)
In Exodus 3:17 the Lord God’s message unto the elders of Israel continued, “And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” The Lord God had promised to bring them up and deliver them out from the land of affliction and to lead them and bring them unto a land of abundant blessing. Thus herein the Lord God placed emphasis upon the fact that He had previously said this, indicating that what He had said, He would do. Indeed, the Lord our God is ever faithful to keep His Word. What He has promised, that He will surely do. We can trust Him at all times to keep His Word. We can trust Him at all times to help us who are His faithful servants in our time of need. We can trust Him at all times to pour out the blessings of His all-sufficient grace upon us who are His faithful servants. Even when our circumstances are “against hope,” let us believe on our Lord’s faithfulness “in hope.” (Romans 4:15) Let us not be “weak in faith.” (Romans 4:16) Let us not stagger at the promises of God “through unbelief.” (Romans 4:17) Rather, let us be “strong in faith, giving glory to God.” (Romans 4:17) Let us be “fully persuaded” that what the Lord our God has promised, He will surely also perform. (Romans 4:18)
I Call You to Serve Me in This World (Our Public Service)
Having delivered His message of personal care and promised help in verses 16-17, the Lord God then instructed Moses and those very elders (leaders) of Israel to take a step and a stand of service for Him. In verse 18 the Lord God stated, “And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.” It was not just Moses, but also the elders of Israel, who were to make their approach and their request unto the king of Egypt. Indeed, they were not simply to go forth in a service of sacrifice unto the Lord. Rather, they were to do so in a public manner, before the ungodly world around them. In addition, they were to do so in a separated manner, apart from the ungodly world around them. Even so, we also are called to present ourselves as “a living sacrifice,” holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God. (Romans 12:1) Indeed, we are to do so by no longer being conformed unto this present evil world, but by being transformed unto the righteous character of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:2) We are no longer to walk as this spiritually lost world walks, in the vanity of their ungodly hearts and minds. (Ephesians 4:17-19) Rather, we are to walk as children of light, proving and pursuing what is acceptable unto the Lord our God. (Ephesians 5:8-10) We are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” (Ephesians 5:11) Rather, we are to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.” (Colossians 1:10)
Posted in Meditations in Exodus, Lovingkindness of the Lord, Faithfulness of Our Lord, Deliverance of Our Lord,
Trust in God, Serving the Lord, Walk in Righteousness
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