Daily Devotion for December 6, 2023

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Exodus 4:18-20.

Can you imagine all that was going through Moses’ mind on his journey back to Egypt? He was afraid, not only of what had happened there years before, but for the assignment he had now been given. In Moses five points of resistance, Dr. Brevard S. Childs observes that each objection looks to a past reality, and each response of God moves Moses to a new future:

• The first, Moses perceives himself to be a genuine “nobody” in his question of “Who am I?”. God’s response is “I will be with you.” 
• Second, Moses wants to know the name of the one who is sending him on such a dangerous journey and mission. God’s response is simple and powerful, “I AM WHO I AM.” 
• Third, Moses fears rejection and disbelief by his own people. God’s response is the action of turning Moses’ shepherd’s staff into a snake and back into a staff again.
• Fourth, Moses doesn’t believe that he can speak effectively. God’s response is as The Message translates it, “I’ll be right there with you to teach you what to say.”
• And fifth, Moses is unpersuaded about his own speaking inadequacies. God responds by sending Moses’ brother Aaron along with him, with God’s presence being with them and teaching them step by step as to what to say.

Here in verses 18-20, we read of Moses’ decision to “Go” and “the staff of God” goes with him. This “staff of God” will become a symbol of God’s presence with him throughout the journey back to Egypt and throughout the journey to the Promised Land. “I AM WHO I AM.” will be with Moses every step of the way.

Personal Worship Option:

This message is carried into Matthew’s gospel. Joseph and Mary also faced a difficult journey and an angel spoke to Joseph in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid...his name will be Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” In the difficult journeys of life, we can trust: “God is with us.”