Who Sent You?

Sometimes I find it difficult to understand some things.

Maybe it is because I pay attention to minor details that others may not bother with, like in the following passage from Exodus:

But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" - Exodus 3:13

If Moses didn't know the name of God, why did he think the Israelites would?  Why would they even ask?  Does knowing the name of their God prove anything?

You see what I mean?  Who else thinks of these things?

The way I read this, Moses is trying to get out of going to Pharaoh.  I can't tell them you sent me, he says.  I don't even know your name.

Really?

We can't know for certain how God felt about that, but it sounds like he was not that happy with Moses.

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

Look, it is written in all caps!  If that was a text message, we would know he was angry.  He's speaking from a burning bush, so you would think Moses would take him seriously, that he would be afraid to say no.

Perhaps the point of this hesitation is that it represents our will to say no, to challenge anyone and everyone, even God.

Moses took a moment to stop and think about this, and he didn't like the idea.  God reassured him, telling him God will be with him throughout the ordeal.

I would want to hear that, too, if I was called to do something that sounded dangerous, even stupid.

Moses had killed an Egyptian, remember, and Pharaoh was out to get him.  Going back could be a suicide mission.

From time to time, we are called to do things we don't really want to do, and we can say yes or we can say no.  Most of the time, God doesn't threaten us or yell at us when we hesitate or refuse.  Nothing might happen at all, but that doesn't mean God isn't affected by our decisions.

It is strange to think that God needs us to do things here on earth, but I believe that is how it works, how prayers are answered, how God intercedes on our behalf.  He sends someone.

When they don't come, we blame God for not answering.  Maybe God isn't to blame at all.

More to come...

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