I love when God makes things simple. I love when He lays things all out and repeats Himself for my benefit. That's why Exodus 6 is so fun.
In the first eight verses, God uses the word "I" 18 times. He eliminates any possible questions about who is in control and just goes wild with establishing who this whole thing is about:
In verses 6 through 8 He says,
"I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.
And if that weren't enough, he uses the word "my" five times in the first eight verses. That means that God repeats the same message 23 different times.
It's about Him.
It's not about me.
I might try to wrestle control of my life from Him at times, but it's going to be Him that does it. Whether "it" is an exodus out of Egypt, a book deal, a move across the country or anything else that is on the horizon for anyone of us.
It's about Him.
Monday, August 18, 2008
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8 comments:
I totally noticed the same thing when I read the chapter this morning! I was like, "Huh. God wants to make really clear who's doing this thing. He's got it."
But then I also noticed how often God uses the word "you" in the same passage. He is the active one, but He is doing it for them. This told me, too, that God really is a relational God. He acts on our behalf. He's active in our circumstances. He is our God.
You just have to love God's way of putting things. Like when asked, Who shall I say sent me? And God replies, Tell them I AM sent you. If there is any doubt, he will erase it! (Perhaps for some that won't be until the day they kneel before Him!)
It struck me how even after all that, Moses chooses to ignore everything God said through him and focus on himself and his weaknesses instead of God, saying: why will the Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?
It amazes me how I, like Moses can focus on my own flaws instead of the power of God, even in His presence.
Take the following phrase
"They will by my people and I will be their God" or whatever variation of that and look for it in the Bible.
Over and over and over again, God is trying to tell us something.
After hearing a sermon preached on this, this became my desperate prayer when I bless others:
"We are your people and You are our God. Forever. Nothing will come between us. That is Your promise."
Nice reminder Jon. It's easy to forget in todays world.
I am and I will....really all we need to know.
Great post - something to really chew on whenever I think that "I" am in control!
Such a perfect message for me to hear today (even though it's not on the day you originally posted it)
Thanks for your study.
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