We’re in the last series of 2024. We’re preparing to change into a new year full of hope, fear, and opportunity. Was 2024 the year that you needed? Will 2025 be the year you want? To become who God created us to be requires change. Changing who we interact with, what we engage with, and how we think. Because change is uncomfortable, we often make excuses.

This series is about a key Israelite who made excuses to God, asking God to give his command to someone else. Yet, God met all these excuses with a love that surpasses understanding, confidence that never wavers, and encouragement that never fades. Our new series is called “Moses, the Imposter.” We’re diving into Exodus 3:11-4:17 to discuss the excuses that Moses feels he cannot do what God has called him to do. My goal for this series is for you to know that whatever excuse you give to God, God meets it with a compassion that knows no bounds and an encouragement that never ceases.

In Part 1, we discussed Moses excuse of “Who am I?” We learned that the answer is “I am with God.” God tells Moses that he will never be alone and will be able to stand out amongst the crowd and do what God asks.

In Part 2, we’re looking at the next excuse: “Who do I say sent me?” Join me in Exodus 3:13-22.

Exodus 3:13-22

NASB	NLT	VOICE
13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name? What shall I say to them?”	13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”	13 Let’s say I go to the people of Israel and tell them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to rescue you,” and then they reply, “What is His name?” What should I tell them then?
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”	14 God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.”	14 I AM WHO I AM. This is what you should tell the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to rescue you.”
15 God furthermore said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is the name for all generations use to call upon me.	15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.	15 This is what you are to tell Israel’s people: “The Eternal, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob is the One who has sent me to you.” This is My name forevermore, and this is the name by which all future generations shall remember Me.
16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord the God of you fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to me saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.	16 “Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, “Yahweh, the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – has appeared to me. He told me, “I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you.	16 Round up all the elders in Israels and tell them, “The Eternal, the God of your fathers and the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, has revealed Himself to me and said, ‘I have been watching over you, and I am deeply troubled by what has been done to you in Egypt.
17 So I said, I will bring you up out of the oppression of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’	17 I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey – the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.”’	17 So I will rescue you from the oppression you have suffered in Egypt, and lead you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites – a rich and productive land flowing with milk and honey.’”
18 Then they will pay attention to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt, and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’	18 “The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord, our God.’	18 They will listen to all that you tell them; you and the elders will then go to visit Egypt’s king and tell the king, “The Eternal, the Hebrews’ God, has appeared to us. We ask that you allow us to travel three dayas’ distance into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Eternal.”
19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion.	19 “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.	19 But I already know the Egypt’s king will turn down your request. He will not allow you to go, unless he is compelled by a hand stronger than his own.
20 So I will reach out with My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.	20 So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at least he will let you go.	20 So I will stretch out My hand, display My power, and crush Egypt with a series of miracles I will perform. After that the king will send you out of Egypt.
21 I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.	21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.	21 I will make it so the Egyptians treat My people favorably; and when you leave Egypt, you will not leave empty-handed.
22 But every woman shall ask her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.	22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughter with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth	22 Every Hebrew woman will ask her Egyptian neighbor and any foreigner in her home for anything made of silver or gold or even fine clothing. You will give all the items you collect to your children to wear. In this way, you will strip these items from the Egyptians.

The Egyptians had many different gods by many different names. Moses wanted to know God’s name so the Hebrew people would know the person that sent him. God called himself “I am.” A name that describes his eternal power and his unchangeable character. In a world where values, morals, and laws change constantly, we can find stability and security in God. Hebrews 13:8 decrees that God is the same: “yesterday, today, and forever.” Because of this, we can follow him freely and enjoy the relationship. We can count on him to guide us no matter how much the world changes.

The divine name, Yahweh, comes from the Hebrew word for “I am.” God reminded Moses of the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – showing his unchanging nature. What God promised to great patriarchs before him would be fulfilled through Moses. God’s wisdom lasts generations, and his promises give meaning and direction to our lives. Knowing that Moses can say, “I am is the one who sent me,” shows that God is instilled in him and all of us. When describing ourselves, we often start with: “I am…” We’re recognizing the talents, skills, and attributes that God placed in us. We are saying to the world that God is shown in us through these descriptors. Keeping this in mind, we can watch how we talk to and about ourselves. When we go, “I am trash. I am weak. I am -insert a negative descriptor-,” we are showing that God’s creation is negative, and that’s untrue. Moses felt many of those feelings about himself but can now say, “I am…”

God told Moses to tell the people what he had seen and heard at the burning bush. Out God is one who acts and speaks. One of the best ways to tell others about God is to share what he’s done and how he’s spoken to you. If you’re trying to share your testimony, talk about what he has done for you, for people you know, or for people whose stories are told in the Bible. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or formal. Share your story as you are. Talk about the highs and lows. Share the uncomfortable stuff (if possible). The more authentic and transparent your story is, the more it can connect with those around you, and you can start building your own relationship.

The leaders of Israel would accept God’s message. The leader of Egypt would reject it. God knew what both reactions would’ve been. We can trust our future to God because he knows what will happen. We can try and do what we want our future to look like, but God will align it with his plans. It could cause us pain, grief, and chaos, and it’s okay. God doesn’t cause us pain, but that pain is caused by our stubbornness and pride.

The jewelry and clothing would not merely be borrowed – they would be asked for and eagerly given. The Egyptians would be ecstatic and so glad to see the Israelites go that they would send them out with gifts. These gifts would be used in building the Tabernacle. The promise of being able to strip the Egyptians of their wealth seemed impossible to Moses at this time. Again, this goes with the mindset of God using our pain for good. The “I am” would share with the Egyptians how to release the Israelites. The “I am” would show Moses how to speak with Pharaoh to make this happen. The “I am” would create the chain of events leading to his plan being fulfilled. The evil happened to the Egyptians because of Pharaoh’s hard heart and stubborn future. God wasn’t the cause of the evil but will use it to create his good for the world.

In Part 3, we’ll dig into Moses’ concern: “Why if they don’t believe me?” Until then, stay blessed.

Associated Scripture

• Exodus 3:8
• Exodus 4:23
• Exodus 4:29
• Exodus 5:1-3
• Exodus 6:2-3
• Exodus 7:3
• Exodus 11:1-3
• Exodus 12:31-33
• Exodus 12:35
• Exodus 15:3
• Numbers 23:4
• Numbers 23:16
• Joshua 24:11
• Nehemiah 9:10
• Psalm 72:17
• Psalm 102:12
• Psalm 135:13
• John 8:58
• Acts 3:13
• Revelation 1:8
• Revelation 4:8