The God of Abraham

September 5, 2010

Lesson: Exodus 3:1–6, 13–15

Key Verse: Exodus 3:6

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Introduction

God chooses his servants to glorify him here on earth. He chooses servants, preparing them in his Word, by his Holy Spirit; then sending them to serve him in the gospel of the Son, Christ Jesus. Nothing is left to chance that his covenant with his people will be carried out. God has both the end and the means to that end in his hands. God is never dependent upon man to carry out his will and purpose. Therefore, the servant of God recognizes that the end never justifies the means. For if the means do not glorify God as does the end result, then we must judge that means as not pleasing to God.

The Confession of Faith teaches us that “God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass” (III. I). The Larger Catechism repeats this truth: “God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will” (L.C. 14). God does not take counsel with rebellious man to accomplish will. All counsel takes place within the Triune Godhead. As we read in God’s Scriptures, we obtained our inheritance, “being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph. 1:11).

Moses, having been chosen and sent to deliver his people from Egypt, carries out the purpose and will of God, which are “God’s decrees …wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time” (L.C. 12); for it is God who works in Moses to will and to do of his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).

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A Holy Place—Exodus 3:1–5

Moses has been keeping the “flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,” for 40 years. God has brought Moses from the luxury of Pharaoh’s court to the tents of Jethro, preparing him to be an honorable vessel in the hands of the Lord. As with Onesimus, Moses moved from being an unprofitable to a profitable servant in the kingdom of the Lord.

Moses moved the flock, as he probably did many times through those years, to “the mountain of God, even to Horeb. The mountain of God refers to that place where God would meet Moses. Calvin wrote: “The title of ‘the mountain of God’ refers by anticipation to a future period, when the place was consecrated by the promulgation of the Law there. It is well known that Horeb is the same mountain which is also called Sinai, except that a different name is given to its opposite sides, and, properly speaking, its eastern side is called Sinai, its western, Horeb. Since, then, God appeared there and gave so many manifest signs of his heavenly glory, when he renewed his covenant with his people, and furnished them with a rule of perfect holiness, the place became invested with peculiar dignity.”

Moses is drawn to this mountain in a way he never experienced throughout his years as a shepherd. The “angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.” Moses looked upon this burning bush; he saw that it was not being consumed by the fire. Moses’ attention was drawn to the Lord through this “great sight.” However, it was not the bush that was reason for the place being called ‘holy,’ but the very presence of the Lord. The angel of the Lord is the messenger of the Lord, but the voice that comes forth from the bush is that very word of the Lord. The Lord speaks to Moses as he draws near, saying, “Moses, Moses.” Moses replies to this call from the Lord, declaring, “Here am I.” The Lord has never been far from Moses or the people. The Lord is known by his people. The Lord calms the heart of Moses that he would not run, but, in wonder, answer his voice.

The Lord reveals himself as the one and only true Creator God: “Draw not nigh hither; but put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” The baring of the feet of Moses would remind him, in each step upon the soil of the hill, that he must approach God with fear and trembling. For, when Moses stands before the Lord, the land upon which he stands becomes holy. It is “holy ground” because the Lord is present. So must we approach our worship of God in Spirit and in Truth. We cannot come with the inventions of our mind, but in a manner that God himself teaches us in his Word. We must come with hearts prepared, not by our desires, to see that we feel good in worship, but one response, “Here am I.”

Discussion: How shall we serve and worship in the presence of our Lord?

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The Covenant God—Exodus 3:6–10

Whenever we come into the presence of our Creator and Deliverer, we are taught just who God is and that He demands our obedience and worship. The Lord says to Moses, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” God, who gave his covenant to Abraham, is the same Lord who comes to us today. The Lord comes with the same covenant he gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, the Lord calls “to memory his covenant formerly made with the patriarchs, he casts down all idols and false gods, and confirms Moses in the true faith” (Calvin). Moses’ response is to hide his face, “for he was afraid to look upon God.” Our true position before God is humility, awe, and fear, for it is the Lord who alone gives life or death. We look upon God each time we come to his Scriptures in study, or in song as we sing his Psalms.

The Lord speaks what most likely has been on the heart of Moses all these years. Moses must have wondered about the treatment of his people in the land of the Pharaohs. It is not that God does not hear the cries of his people. He does. Our patience is taxed because we must forget self and look to God for our salvation. God’s plan is sure, established in time at his good pleasure, that his name alone may be glorified. Therefore he testifies to Moses that he has surely seen the affliction of his people, “which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.” It is not the time element that we should be worried about, but the sure covenant of God. Because of his gracious love toward those whom he has adopted to be his people and his knowledge of our sorrows, he will hear and help us in time of need.

The Lord proceeds to tell Moses of his plan of deliverance for his people. He promises to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians. He will bring his people into “a good and large” land, “flowing with milk and honey.” He has heard the cry of the “children of Israel.” The instrument he will use to deliver his people is Moses: “I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.” Whenever we seek to be delivered from our afflictions of sin or sickness, look for the deliverance to take place through a servant of the Lord. If a brother sins, or is in need of physical help, be ready to be an instrument of deliverance in the hand of the Lord.

Discussion: How did the Lord reveal his plan of deliverance to Moses?

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The Name of God—Exodus 3:11–15

Moses replies to God’s plan of using him as a messenger and tool of deliverance, saying, “Who am I?” Moses began with saying, “Here am I.” His first response to the call to obey God is to look to himself, as if he alone would face Pharaoh. The Lord gives Moses a threefold answer that should give him confidence as a chosen servant of the Most High. First is the promise that the Lord will be with Moses: “Certainly I will be with thee.” Second, the promise that Moses will certainly have victory: “When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” Moses will return to this same spot upon which he had received the commission. Third, deliverance will be accomplished by the truth of whom the Lord is: Salvation rests in the person of the Lord himself.

Who is the Lord, “What is his name?” God reveals himself, saying, “I AM That I AM.” Moses is to tell the people that their deliverer is the “Lord God” of their fathers, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” The “I AM” Covenant God of Israel is his name, forever, the eternal Lord, a “memorial unto all generations.” We are to remember his name, for in this name “God attributes to himself alone divine glory, because he is self-existent and therefore eternal; and thus gives being and existence to every creature” (Calvin). He is the unchangeable Lord who saves and delivers his people, generation after generation. The Son has spoken for the Triune Godhead, when he said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” There is no other name under heaven by which His people can be saved. Therefore, we can trust Him alone for our salvation.

Discussion: What is the threefold encouragement that the Lord gave to Moses?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.