Perspective.

The Setup (Context).

The Hebrews are enslaved in Egypt. They start growing. The King of Egypt gets scared and treats them worse to break spirits, demoralize, and prevent an uprising. Executes all the male children to prevent their further growth as a people. Baby Moses is cleverly hidden, saved, and then adopted into the King's family (ironic). He grows up with the privileges of royalty, but watching his people be oppressed. He sees an overseer beating a Hebrew and kills the overseer. He gets found out. He flees to another country. he adopts a new culture and a new lifestyle as a shepherd. The King of Egypt dies. The people groan in their slavery. God takes notice. God does the fireproof bush trick. Moses sees it and approaches. Then:


God Speaks (The Paradox).

Exodus 3:7-10
The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their slave drivers, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."


Observations (Abridged)

1. God is aware of the affliction of the people.
2. He gives heed to their cries.
3. He says He has come to deliver them.
4. His only action in addressing the situation is sending Moses to lead the people out of Egypt.


Question (Pointed).

How is God sending Moses to bring the people out of Egypt the same thing as God coming down to deliver them?


Interpretation (Epic)

God calling Moses to lead people was His answer to the Hebrews prayer. Sure, Moses had a role in the decision, and of course it affected him. But the heart of his call into leadership wasn't about him. It was about God understanding and giving ear to the prayers on the hearts of people, and sending an answer, in the form of Moses. What happens if Moses refused that call and hadn't gone back to the people? An entire, growing but oppressed nation may well have remained in that very real, physical bondage.


The Point (Humbling)

There's things and places I'm being sent to. What does it look like to treat those things like I believe that God sending me there is his response to someones prayer for freedom? If I don't take up the call, who am I leaving in their bondage?