Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
For our first anniversary, my wife took me to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Yes, my wife is cooler than yours). We saw David Thompson’s sneakers and Bob Cousey’s jersey. I saw a basketball signed by Dr. J. I was simply in awe.
As I walked around, I felt two things at the same time. On one hand, I felt a new connection with these people. After all, I had only seen them on TV. Now, things that once belonged to them were right in front of me. On the other hand, I felt completely disconnected from these people because I am 5’10 and can’t jump and have a loose handle with a basketball. Looking at the exhibits reminded of what I’m not.
In the New Testament, Hebrews 11 lists the “Faith Hall of Fame.” As I read it, it’s hard not to feel like I felt in Springfield - inferior to these historic names of Bible heroes. It’s hard not to feel like God calls people like Abraham and David and Moses, not people like me. In the world of “roars,” I imagine Moses as a huge lion as me as a tiny house cat.
In truth, you and I have more in common with Moses and the other “heroes” of Hebrews 11 than we might realize.
God first appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. Moses was tending sheep in the desert. Once, he was a prince in Egypt. Now, he was in hiding, rejected by both the Egyptians and the Israelites. But God came to find him because God had plans for him:
Exodus 3:10 – “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Try to put yourself in Moses’ place when he heard this. Moses was living in Midian BECAUSE things didn’t work out in Egypt. He crashed and burned there. He was a wanted man. He was a has-been. A nobody. Thus, his reply: “God, you’ve called the wrong man.”
Exodus 3:11 – “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ ”
“Who am I?” That’s always our question. “Who am I to do that? Am I talented enough? Smart enough? Strong enough? Wealthy enough? Well-connected enough? What qualifies me for this? Who am I?”
God always answers us like He answered Moses: “I will be with you.” In other words, He lets us know that we’re asking the wrong question. It’s not about us. It’s about Him! He is not dependent on our strength or intelligence or connections. He invites us to be part of what HE is doing, not vice-versa. He is the lone hero of the story.
In fact, when Moses says, “I don’t even know who you are?” God replies, ‘“I AM WHO I AM.” This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
Louie Giglio once preached a sermon in which he made an interesting observation about the conversation between Moses and God. Giglio points out that the name God revealed to Moses, I AM, is a direct answer to all of Moses’ objections. In fact, it is the exact opposite of Moses’ name (and our name). My name is “I Am Not.”
Moses says, “I am not strong, God.” And God says, “I AM.” Moses says, “I am not powerful of speech, God!” And God says, “I AM.” Moses says, “I’m not capable of doing this, God.” And God says, “I AM.”
Giglio ends his sermon by declaring, “I am not, but I know I AM.” I am not smart. I am not rich. I am not talented. I am not brave, or bold, or confident, or capable. I am not… but I know I AM… and that is enough.
We forget that. We fixate on everything we are not, and we assume we are unworthy of being used by God. But we forget the story is not about us. We’re living God’s story. I am not, but I know I AM.
In Hebrews 12, the author concludes the “Faith Hall of Fame” by saying, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith.”
The writer pictures the heroes of Hebrews 11 seated around us in a stadium cheering us on. They’ve been where we are. They struggled with the same struggles, and they learned that God is sufficient for our biggest needs. Since we are surrounded by such a legacy of faith, let’s run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
And one day, we’ll pass that legacy along for the next generation.
Evangelist Luis Palau writes:
During my first semester at Multnomah School of the Bible, Torchbearers founder Major Ian Thomas spoke at our chapel service. He talked about how it took Moses 40 years in the wilderness to learn that he was nothing. Then one day, Moses was confronted with a burning bush—likely a dry bunch of ugly sticks—yet Moses had to take off his sandals. Why? Because God was in the bush!
Major Thomas said, “God was telling Moses, ‘I don’t need a pretty bush or an educated bush or an eloquent bush. Any old bush will do as long as I’m in the bush. If I’m going to use you, it won’t be you doing something for me, but me doing something through you.’”
I was that kind of bush: a useless bunch of dried up sticks. I could do nothing for God. All my reading and studying and modeling myself after others was worthless unless God was in the bush. Only he could make something happen.
When Thomas closed his message, I ran back to my room and in tears prayed in my native Spanish. My spiritual struggle was finally over! I’d let God be God and let Luis be dependent on him.
In your journal, write out your own “throw off” weights and sins prayer (see Hebrews 12:1-3). Write out what you are NOT, and confess what Jesus IS.
Dave and Carole Dunlap: Amor Ministries, Scripture Translating-Algeria/Northern AfricaBACK TO WEEKLY DEVOTIONS