Exodus 3-4: The Calling of Moses

Exodus chapter 3 begins with the "calling" of Moses on Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, "the mountain of God." Moses encounters three mysterious events: the appearance of an Angel of the Lord, a burning bush that is not being consumed by the fire, and the voice of God sounding from the fiery bush. When Moses hears the voice of God calling his name, "Moses! Moses!" he says, "Here I am." But when God answers Moses and demonstrates his presence and power, Moses hides his face because he is afraid to look at God.

Eugene Pluchart (French painter, 1809-1880), "God Appears to Moses
in Burning Bush" (1848), St. Isaac of Dalmatia Cathedral, St. Petersburg.

The idea of "calling" someone seems so commonplace and ordinary in vernacular English. From reading online definitions of "call," the general meaning is "to call [out for someone], to command, to request, to summon." This reminds me of a parent calling out for a child to come home, or to come for dinner. The parent knows where the child is (most likely), but it requires a tone of authority or urgency to get the child to answer in obedience. In this story, it requires creativity and a dramatic burning bush to get Moses to leave his daily task of tending to his father-in-law's flock (Exodus 3:3).

In Exodus 3:4 through 4:17, we read there is a conversation between Moses and God. We learn from this conversation a little bit about the nature of God. The setting here is that the Israelites are enslaved by the Egyptians, and God has come to answer their cries for help and rescue them from their misery. God asks for Moses to help! Moses must go to Pharaoh and speak with authority and bring God's people out of bondage. In a bold (yet honest) move, Moses objects by giving 5 reasons!

1. Moses feels inadequate; he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:11). 
2. Moses doesn't believe anyone will believe he has spoken to God. They will ask him what is this name of God? and "What shall I tell them?" (3:13).
3. Moses says, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (4:1).
4. Moses describes himself as not eloquent and "slow of speech and tongue" (4:10).
5. Moses is not willing to go. He says, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." (4:13).

From these answers, we can identify with how Moses feels. He already has survived a complicated life. By decree of the king of Egypt, all Hebrew boys were to be thrown in the Nile and only girls allowed to live. So even at birth, his life was in danger. His mother placed him in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile to be found and spared. He was found by the Pharaoh's daughter who had compassion on him and raised him as an Egyptian in the royal household. She named him Moses, meaning, "I drew him out of the water." (Exodus 2).

Forty years later, Moses has fled Egypt, the tyranny of Pharaoh and his harsh oppression of the Israelites, and he is wandering in Midian. He comes upon the priest of Midian, Jethro, who gives him a wife (his daughter Zipporah) and a job. He is busy taking care of his father-in-law Jethro's flock, and he is married. He has a place in a family, a new identity and a purpose. But suddenly, God is calling him and summoning him to do something else?

Location of Ancient Midian.

Just as a reminder, here are his 5 objections:

1. Moses feels inadequate; he says, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (3:11). 
2. Moses doesn't believe anyone will believe he has spoken to God. They will ask him what is this name of God? and "What shall I tell them?" (3:13).
3. Moses says, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (4:1).
4. Moses describes himself as not eloquent and "slow of speech and tongue" (4:10).
5. Moses is not willing to go. He says, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it" (4:13).

God answers:

1. God says he will be with Moses and assures him of his presence, "I will be with you" (3:11-12).
2. God reveals his name to Moses, which is a sign of authority, trust and a relationship with God. "I AM WHO I AM" (3:14-15).
3. God gives Moses three miraculous signs, which he can share with others to cause them to believe. (4:1-9). 
4. God assures Moses that he made man and his ability to speak and hear so even in Moses' weakness, God can use him as he determines (4:10-12).
5. God allows Moses to have Aaron as a helper to do the talking. At this point, God is angry with Moses' disobedience, but he is determined to still use Moses in his plan, "I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do" (4:15).

It is noteworthy that God has remained patient with Moses during his first four objections. After his fifth objection, it says, "the Lord's anger burned against Moses" because of his disobedience. Although Moses didn't feel like he was worthy to even be in God's presence, God had a plan for the Israelites and determined to include Moses in the plan. This communication with God was not easy, and Moses even argues with God. After Moses questions God, then God reveals even more about his nature to Moses: his name, his power and authority, his miracles, and his assurance of faith, knowledge and peace. The final word of advice from God to Moses is, "But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it" (4:17). Moses knows he is going out to do a risky mission and God knows he will face hardship, opposition, and will be in need of miracles. But God sends him and Aaron anyway, and Moses and Aaron go. (Wow!)

Application: Relationships require time and energy, open communication and honesty. When talking to God, it is okay to be truthful and disagree. In ourselves, we cannot do anything miraculous. We will have trials in this world. God knows what we are capable of doing when we turn to Him for wisdom, discernment, validation, power, and strength. God sends us helpers.

Jesus said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome this world" (John 16:33). And apostle John wrote to early church believers in his letter: "...everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).