by Teena Myers

Follow Me: Deliverance

Observations as I follow God through the Chronological Bible

Exodus 3:11-12

Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush stirred up memories he had buried deep. He tried to help his family 40 years earlier, but they rejected him. He had no interest in trying again.

The question Moses posed, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” sounds like humility. Moses will wear the title of the meekest man in all the earth, but he is not there yet.

God’s response, “I will be with you…” reveals Moses’ arrogance. Who Moses “is” was irrelevant to God. God had already been to Egypt, assessed the situation and had a plan. Moses was only a tool in God’s hand to fulfill his plan, which spans generations.

The proof God was with Moses in this endeavor is interesting. God said to Moses, “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.” God’s plan is to bring his people to the land he promised Abraham, but he did not include Moses in that aspect of the plan. God said nothing about Moses leading the people into the promised land. Moses will bring the people out of Egypt and lead them in worshipping God on the mountain where he encountered the burning bush.

People familiar with this story know Moses will sin and be forbidden to cross the Jordan into the promised land. Did God foresee this event in Moses’ life? Is that why Moses will bring the people out, lead them in worship, but not lead them into the Promised Land? I suppose that is possible, but I think there is another valid reason. The only one who can lead us into the Promised Land of true justice and equality is Jesus. Forbidding Moses to cross Jordan never exempted him from entering the Promised Land ruled by God’s son that God had on his mind.