As If

Exodus 6:1-13

We have just witnessed complete hostility from Pharaoh. It seems to the Israelites that God has abandoned them and the fine plans they were to follow. God speaks to Moses again. He identifies himself as the God who had appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty (El Shaddai). Now he appears by the new name we have seen the LORD (Yahweh). So God identifies himself as the one who had begun his promise with the forefathers. They had not experienced the fulfillment of that promise – of a land and progeny. Now he appears with a new name that itself renews the promise and indicates the power of its fulfillment: “I Am Who I Am” or “I Will Be Who I Will Be”, or perhaps an expanded form would be, ‘I am the one you will know as you experience my saving presence.’

At present, however, the people are experiencing a huge discrepancy between what the name indicates and their present circumstances (verse 9). Nevertheless, the Lord says to Moses to go tell the Pharaoh to let the people go, and repeats the command after Moses’ now familiar objection concerning his speech.

We get this kind of experience in personal trials. Then faith may mean, as Philip Yancey says, going on as if we have that faith.

Prayer:
When you seem distant, Lord, let us experience one another in such a way that we are led back to your presence that has never left. In Christ. Amen.