GOD IS IN CONTROL

OPENING PRAYER:

Speak to me today Lord. If I am evading some decision, shirking some task, wasting time, bring me to my senses.

READ: Exodus 3:13–22

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[a] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[b] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

“Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’ “The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.” Exodus 3:13–22

REFLECT:

Is there an area of your life right now where you feel out of control? How does this make you feel? Pray that God will reveal his work in your life to you today as you read his Word.

As you read this passage, were you reassured by all that God was doing? Let’s take a look at him at work:

• He reassures Moses of his calling (v 14).

• He tells Moses what to do (vs 16,18) and gives Moses a receptive audience (v 18).

• He observes his people (v 16).

• He promises deliverance and blessing (vs 17,21).

• He has control over the Israelites’ enemies (vs 19–21).

• He will perform wonders (v 20).

• He had given Moses a sign that his promises would be fulfilled (3:12).

God is totally in charge! We do not need to doubt God’s power and abilities, although we might. God foresees all that will happen and equips Moses with numerous promises to reassure him. God knows and loves his people (v 16), and this passage is part of the wider plan in which God saves his people, ultimately through Jesus Christ. As the words of 1 Peter 2:9 tell us, as Christians we are part of God’s family, called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.

APPLY:

God has a great plan for us as part of his family, even though we may not always feel that. Reflect on the words of 1 Peter 1:3–9 and allow yourself to be filled with hope in whatever you’re facing.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Lord God of Love, fellowship with You is a life of adventure. You are never finished with me. Make me a new person for a new day.

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