IDENTITY CRISIS

Fear grew in Moses' heart

Source: Christian Computer Art www.CC-Art.com

WORD OF WISDOM
SURETY ~ One who becomes responsible for another. Christ is the surety of the better covenant (Hebrews 7:22). In him we have the assurance that all its provisions will be fully and faithfully carried out.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Exodus 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. 10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13 And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

Moses was raised as an Egyptian, but he was born a Hebrew. He has a crisis of identity. We know from in Exodus 2 verses 6 thru 10 that after Moses was found he was nursed by his own mother. Verse 11 tells us that he went out and saw the burdens of his brethren; verse 12 tells us that he kills an Egyptian. Moses knew he was a Hebrew. Verse 15 tells us that Moses fled when he found out Pharaoh sought to kill him.

Fast forward forty years and we have the burning bush. Moses asks God, who is he [Moses]. God answers not who Moses is, but I will be with you. Moses then asks what is the name of the one who sends me? Gods says I AM.

Moses tells God they will not believe me? God gives Moses three signs to show the people. Moses says I am not a speaker. God tells him who made you? Moses says please send someone else. 14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Look at that in the AMP Bible. 14 Then the anger of the Lord blazed against Moses; He said, Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite? I know he can speak well. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. 15 You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, acting as a mouthpiece for you, and you shall be as God to him.

Moses did not know who he was. He did not know that God is never surprised. When God told Moses to go, all the preparations had been made. God does not have an identity crisis. He knows that when He gives a command He will also supply all the equipment. When God says, “I will send you” every provision has been made for the appointed task. “I will not fail you.”

When God tell us to do something, do we have an identity crisis or do we know that “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

God Bless,
rECj/LJG