BIBLE PASSAGES
Exodus 6:2-9:35
Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Romans 9:14-17, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
How do we understand the name of God? What God do we serve? How is God's name reflected in our day to day life? People worship many gods. How do we make it clear, to the world around us, what God we serve?
The burning bush encounter disclosed to Moses the name of God. Moses knew that the Hebrews and the Gentiles of Egypt would want to know in what name does Moses come. Asking for the release of the Hebrews meant someone with authority would have to release them. Pharoah was equal to God and not planning to give up his subjects. God makes it known for the first time what His name is. Before this encounter with Moses, God had been known as Almighty.
Moses standing before Pharaoh on behalf of the children of Israel is required to use the name I AM. God said through Moses, let my people go. Pharaoh and the people of God were hard-hearted. After a few displays of God’s power, the people of Abraham came to understand that Moses was their deliverer from Egypt.
Pharaoh's hard heart brought the plagues upon Egypt. No other nation had seen the power of God displayed in this way. The mighty, powerful nation of Egypt was brought to its knees by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God’s powerful arm in 1948, brought the people of God, back to Israel. No nation or leader could stop his sovereignty. That same powerful right arm of the Lord is at work now. Israel is doing what God has asked them to do in part. However, coming back to the geographic region of Israel, as a nation of people, does not mean Israel is obedient to the precepts of the Word in all matters.
As nations today harden their hearts against God and His people, there are consequences we must face. Sovereignly, we are moving towards a final Passover. Nations will be accountable for their choices and actions.
The people who have seen the light of the Kingdom of God; will turn and support God’s plan out of allegiance and respect for their king. The rest will be left in the valley of decision to choose whom they will serve. The love of many will wax cold during this appointed time and season.
Without the Spirit of God in our lives, it is difficult to accept the signs of the times. The fear of God must return to both the nations and the Hebrews, holding fast to the promises God gave us just as Moses did.
When we see the power of God at work in people, what is our response? We need to give God the credit recognizing his powerful outstretched right arm. The answers that we give God today can produce an outcome tomorrow.
Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” - Exodus 6:2-8
“Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to My servant Jacob. And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.” - Ezekiel 28:25-26
“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’” - Romans 9:17
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” - 2 Corinthians 7:1
Questions for Reflection:
▪ How do we understand the name of God?
▪ What God do we serve?
▪ How is God's name reflected in our day to day life?
▪ Do I fear God?
▪ When we see the power of God at work in people, what is our response?
▪ Do I understand how much God loves it when people worship Him?
▪ Do I believe that God spoke to Moses?
▪ Do I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
▪ How do we make it clear, to the world around us, what God we serve?
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