Introduction
We have been reading the Bible over the last few weeks and will continue on in the days ahead. I mentioned last week in the Book of Genesis, how the Life of Joseph was like a Hollywood Soap Opera. Now as we read through Exodus, I am reminded of Charlton Heston and the movie, The 10 Commandments, or the animated, Prince of Egypt. There is so much to consider as we read this book together. It is difficult to decide on a singular theme in Exodus, because there are so many stories that make up the book. Moses is one of the primary characters in this book. And this morning, I want to look at his life and see what we can learn from him about finding our identity as followers of Jesus.
Life of Moses
We know from the Scriptures that Joseph and his descendants prospered greatly in Egypt. After that generation died off a new Pharoah came to power and put the Jewish people into forced labour and slavery for about 400 years. They were too numerous for the liking of Pharoah, and he ordered all the males born of Jewish women to be put to death. Moses mother places him in a basket and puts him in the Nile. After Moses had been found in the Nile River by Pharaoh’s daughter and adopted in defiance of her father’s wishes, he lived the first 40 years of his life as a Prince of Egypt. He lived in the comfort and wealth of that great nation which was one of the superpowers in its day. Moses received the best education Egypt could offer and became well known, for it was said of him, “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds” (Acts 7:22).
One day Prince Moses went for a walk and came across an Egyptian beating up one of his own people (Ex 2:11). 40-year-old Moses runs for his life after Pharoah tries to kill him. With a price on his head, he became a political refugee wanted for murder. He runs into the desert of Midian where he meets the daughters of Reuel (also known as Jethro), who was a priest of Midian. Days turn into months and years, he felt like a “stranger in a foreign land” (Ex 2:22). He marries Zipporah and has children and, becomes a shepherd for the next 40 years. Most likely, close to the end of those years, God encounters Moses at the burning bush. This experience challenged Moses to the core. It was holy, like nothing he had ever experienced. His story carries on with a return trip to Egypt and the 10 plagues and the “exodus” from Egypt towards the Promised Land. All of these life events for Moses, lead up to the climax of the 10 Commandments and everything after that describes the practices and rules of worship, the priesthood, and tabernacle.
Discovering your Identity
Moses is an interesting case study when it comes to personal identity. He was adopted. He was a Prince. He was Jewish. Or was he Egyptian? He was a murderer and a refugee. He was a stranger, but he was also a leader. He talked with sheep and goats, but he also talked to a burning bush. He met with God on Mount Sinai. There are so many aspects of Moses life that are a challenge to securing his identity. He experienced cultural differences between Egypt, the desert of Midian and his Jewish roots. There were differences in religious beliefs. Different customs. Different families, foods, and lifestyles. New languages to learn. All of these were competing for Moses identity. Where did he come from? Who was he? What did he really believe? What was his purpose? Where would life lead him?
He had been an Egyptian ruler but now he married into a family of shepherds. He was rejected by Pharoah and by the Jews. I wonder what happened to his self esteem and identity as a person? I am sure Moses wrestled with these questions.
In order to form a strong personal identity, we must encounter God. This was the case with Moses. The burning bush was life changing for Moses. It was his introduction to his Creator. Moses saw a burning bush that did not burn up and decided to check it out. Something unique captured his attention. In the back of his mind he had many unanswered questions about himself. As I said earlier, Moses had to be wondering how he ended up here, in a foreign land, with somebody else’s sheep. And now he is having a conversation with a burning bush.
“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
I want to share with you a key to discovering your personal identity. You must first discover God. God speaks to Moses - I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This place, this encounter with God and the burning bush is holy. Moses’ response is understandable, he hides his face. God then gives Moses some direction for his future. You are going to be my servant and deliverer on behalf of the Israelites. Again, Moses responds with uncertainty, with a question – “Who am I…?” God does not respond by answering Moses’ question but reveals His identity to Moses. It’s going to be OK. I will be with you. “I AM WHO I AM!” Moses was a composite of his upbringing. He was born Jewish, adopted and raised as a Prince of Egypt for 40 years, then a shepherd for 40 years. Who am I, was a difficult question to answer. There was a lot of uncertainty in Moses heart.
Now, God introduces himself with an identity that is unshakeable. “I AM WHO I AM” – I think, with this title, God is telling us, I exist because I exist. I am not dependent upon anything or anyone else to give me an identity. I am the source of your identity. And this God introduces himself to Moses, to help him come to grips with who he is. Moses needed to lay down the questions and come face to face with God as his source of life and identity. Moses learns his true identity as God’s servant and prophet, by learning the true identity of God. I AM WHO I AM is revealed to him. This conversation at the burning bush is just the beginning for Moses’ journey. Moses repeatedly questions his own abilities for the task before him, and every time Moses asks the equivalent of “Who am I?” God responds, “I am with you.”
In Conclusion
This sounds a lot like Jesus speaking to us today. I will never leave you or forsake you. I am sure there are times in each of our lives when we question God. “Who am I? What is going on? Where is my future taking me?” We need to remind ourselves that the answer to these questions of identity and security are found in getting to know God, who says, “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!” Our true selves, our authentic identity, flows out of our relationship with God.
In these times of Covid and uncertainty, it’s easy to ask, “Who am I?” “What’s my purpose?” or “What’s the point?” These questions are different for every person and deeply personal. I will say this to you this morning – that each day is one day closer to the return of Jesus Christ. And that we will discover our true identity in our relationship with God. Jesus is always with us. The Holy Spirit lives personally and intimately within us. When you feel lost, find God. When questions arise that threaten your sanity, draw near to the Prince of Peace. When you fail, when you feel worthless, when you feel frustrated, remember that you are God’s child, loved and accepted. God is the source of identity; God is the great I AM.
The last few weeks I felt really lost. Questions, questions and more questions. About work, church, family. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, anxious, and, not sure what to do. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired with all the stuff. Then I get tired with being tired. Can you relate. I want to say that in all these challenges, “I AM” is with us. “I AM WHO I AM” and all of God’s grace, mercy and peace is with us. His love and patience are always surrounding us. God is our sure foundation and the source of our identity. I am a child of God.
In Application
This morning, we have learned about finding our identity as we get close to God. How do we do that? Hear are a few tips that as a pastor I repeat over and over to myself and to the church.
· Read the Bible… Join us as we read through the Bible plan on YouVersion.
· Pray… Talk with God about all the questions you have.
· Tell others about how God is there for you…
Let us pray