GOD says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!"

Each time I read the story of the Exile from Egypt, the Holy Spirit shines a little brighter, letting me see deeper into the Word.  Now Pharaoh seems to be a bully but if you look deeper he does not have control of himself, but YHWH is very much in control here!  Do you see it?  In the scriptures we see YHWH, Moses and Aaron are in their little huddle discussing what is going to happen each time they meet with their opponent, Pharaoh. 

Lets look at our Opponents:

Pharaoh, Magicians and Wise Men - King of the Egyptians who has never seen the God of Abraham at work before.  Oh, he has heard stories, but has not seen the YHWH in action. 

Moses and Aaron - Surrendered to the very YHWH that created them and humbled themselves so He could use them for His purpose.

YHWH - YHWH wants to show His power not only to the Egyptians but to His people.  YHWH is in control of the situation.  Yes, I said YHWH is in control of the situation. 

Moses Staff Becomes a Snake  (Exodus 7:1:13)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. I will use my great power against him, and he will let my people go. He will be so ready for them to leave that he will force them to go.”Then God said to Moses, “I am the LORD.  I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They called me God All-Powerful. They did not know my name, the LORD.  I made an agreement with them. I promised to give them the land of Canaan. They lived in that land, but it was not their own. Now, I have heard their painful cries. I know that they are slaves in Egypt. And I remember my agreement.  So tell the Israelites that I say to them, ‘I am the LORD. I will save you. You will no longer be slaves of the Egyptians. I will use my great power to make you free, and I will bring terrible punishment to the Egyptians. You will be my people and I will be your God. I am the LORD your God, and you will know that I made you free from Egypt. I made a great promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I promised to give them a special land. So I will lead you to that land. I will give you that land. It will be yours. I am the LORD.’” (Exodus 6: 2-8 ERV) 

The LORD said to Moses, “See how important I have made you? In speaking to Pharaoh, you will be like God, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.  You will tell Aaron everything that I command you. Then he will tell the king what I say. And Pharaoh will let the Israelites leave this country.  But I will make Pharaoh stubborn so that he will not do what you tell him. Then I will do many miracles in Egypt to prove who I am. But he will still refuse to listen. So then I will punish Egypt very much. And I will lead my army, my people, out of that land. I will punish the people of Egypt, and they will learn that I am the LORD. Then I will lead my people out of their country.” Moses and Aaron did what the LORD told them.  Moses was 80 years old at the time, and Aaron was 83.  The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,  “Pharaoh will ask you to prove your power...(Exodus 7:1-9 ERV) 

A Plague of Blood  (Exodus 7:14-15)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh, with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!", YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague of Frogs  (Exodus 8:1-15) 

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh, with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!",  - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague of Gnats  (Exodus 8:16-19)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague Flies (Exodus 8:20-32)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, "YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague against Livestock (Exodus 9:1-7)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague of Boils (Exodus 9:8-12)

Moses and Aaron obey GOD and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - GOD hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague of Hail  (Exodus 9:13-35)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague of Locusts  (Exodus 10:1-20)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

A Plague of Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

Death for Egypt's Firstborn (Exodus 11:10)

Moses and Aaron obey YHWH and go to Pharaoh with the request, YHWH says, "LET MY PEOPLE GO!" - YHWH hardens Pharaoh's heart and he refuses to let the Israelites go.

And the winner in the end is GOD the Almighty!  Hallelujah!

Satan meant to destroy the people of YHWH, but YHWH showed up and turned the situation around.

Book of Exodus

"I AM THE YAHWEH / EL SHADDAI"

Then the LORD (YAHWEH/JEHOVAH) said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. I will use my great power against him, and he will let my people go. He will be so ready for them to leave that he will force them to go.”  Then God said to Moses, “I am the LORD (YAHWEH/JEHOVAH).  I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They called me God All-Powerful (EL SHADDAI). They did not know my name, the LORD (YAHWEH/JEHOVAH).  I made an agreement with them. I promised to give them the land of Canaan. They lived in that land, but it was not their own.  Now, I have heard their painful cries. I know that they are slaves in Egypt. And I remember my agreement.  So tell the Israelites that I say to them, ‘I am the LORD (YAHWEH/JEHOVAH). I will save you. You will no longer be slaves of the Egyptians. I will use my great power to make you free, and I will bring terrible punishment to the Egyptians.  (Exodus 6: 1-6 ERV)

YAHWEH/JEHOVAH (traditionally rendered Jehovah) - The true and proper name of God. This is also a name of being independent, I AM WHO I AM only belongs to Jehovah God.  As we consider His greatness we should fall upon our face in awe of this One who possess all authority.

The Bible does not seek to prove the existence of God; it just simply states IN THE BEGINNING GOD.  But all through the Bible the revelation of  YAHWEH/JEHOVAH is seen.

YAHWEH/JEHOVAH  -  is a verb meaning to be, God is stating I will be who I will be.  God is the author of life and salvation.

The words, “I AM” expresses that God is the person and the being behind everything, and without Him there is nothing made.  I AM THAT I AM, expresses the truth that nothing or no one defines who God is but God Himself.

When you and I are convinced that we alone can do nothing and put our dependence upon a Holy God and our expectations upon God instead of man we shall see God’s hand revealed.

It seems that God usually brings us to the place I SURRENDER ALL.  I tried my way and failed.  Moses had been trying what he could do and accomplished strife and bitterness.  Then God answer’s with I will show myself as YAHWEH/JEHOVAH, I AM THAT I AM.

I AM THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE AND THE SOURCE OF THAT LIFE

I AM THE FOUNTAIN OF BLESSINGS AND THE SOURCE OF BLESSINGS

I AM GOD AND BESIDES ME THERE IS NONE OTHER

Sit the other false God’s around me and they will fall and crumple. YAHWEH/JEHOVAH: I will now perform what I promised.  A God that perfects what he has begun and finishes it.

You might know God in name today, but do you know Him in the Power of the One who gives Life?  Church God wants you and me to know He is YAHWEH/JEHOVAH.  He has not left you for He said I will never leave you,  He said I will restore,  He will restore for He is YAHWEH/JEHOVAH/EL SHADDAI.

The Meaning of El Shaddai -   El: "mighty power".  EL is found 250 times in the Bible.  EL means, "Mighty power, omnipotence, the strong one."  Shaddai - "all sufficient provider."  "The most preferred explanation is that Shaddai is derived from the verb shadad ("to overpower, to deal violently, or to devastate"). ... God as 'El Shaddai is presented as the all-powerful One, totally self-sufficient, absolute ruler, and the One who can and does make final disposition."

"Shaddai" is probably related to the word "Mountain" and suggests the power or strength of God.  So the two names together mean, "The Almighty all-sufficient God who protects and provides."

Gen.17:1-8; 15-22    El Shaddai supplies the impossible.   God's future promise should make us happy in the present.

Gen.28:1-8    El Shaddai blesses the obedient.  Are you finding your joy and happiness in God as your El Shaddai?  Are we passing on a joyful confidence in God to those around us?

Gen.35:1-4; 9-12    El Shaddai doesn't share worship.

"It is significant that the covenant was introduced with a revelation by God of His name. This may not seem of great importance to us but in Eastern thought to reveal the name was to reveal the person and to invite intimacy." ~D. Stuart Briscoe and Lloyd J. Ogilvie

Names of God... "There is something in every Name of God which may breed faith in our souls. Whether we know him as Jehovah, Elohim, Shaddai, or Lord, or by whatsoever other name he has been pleased to manifest himself, that title becomes the ground of our confidence, and is the means of fostering faith in his people's minds, when they come to understand its meaning. To a trembling people the Lord enlarges on his wonderful names. I think he also does it to excite our wonder and our gratitude. He that loves us so much is Jehovah: he that can create and destroy; he that is the self-existent God; he, even he, has set his heart upon his people, and loves them and counts them precious in his sight. It is a marvelous thing. The more one thinks of it, the more shall he be overwhelmed with astonishment, that he who is everything should love us who are less than nothing. It is the Holy One who has deigned to choose, and to love unholy men, and to look upon them in grace, and save them from their sins. That you may bow low in loving gratitude, God lets you see who He is."  ~Spurgeon

~Bits and Pieces of sermons by Jim McCurry and David Scudder

For an indepth study of the names of God view:

Hebrew for Christians

Blue Letter Bible - Study Tools

Fearful to Faithful

“The elders will listen to you.   And then you and the elders will go to the Pharaoh.  You will tell him, YAHWEH is the God of the Hebrews.  He came to us and told us to travel three days into the desert.  There we must offer sacrifices to YAHWEH our God.’ “But I know that the Pharaoh will not let you go. Only a great power will force him to let you go,  so I will use my great power against Egypt.  I will cause amazing things to happen in that land. After I do this, he will let you go. And I will cause the Egyptians to be kind to the Israelites. They will give many gifts to your people when they leave Egypt.   (Exodus 3:18-21)

When you say the name Moses, what do you think of?

Man of Faith?
Great divider of the Red Sea.
Great leader who took Israel out of Egypt.
Great law giver of the Old Testament.
Extraordinary man of God?

Moses was all of those things.  He is not someone we think of in any way as ordinary, but even Moses had some ordinary times in his life.  And even for Moses, the great man of God, it was not he who was extraordinary, but it was the God he served who did extraordinary things through Moses.

In the Bible we see Moses described as: 

A faithful servant (Hebrews 3:5)

The servant of the Lord (Deuteronomy 34:5)

Faithful in all God’s house (Numbers 12:7)

Someone who spoke with God “as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11)

He was definitely an extraordinary man of faith.

Imagine the Situation

Ok, you have got to get this picture in your head.  You are having a conversation with the God of the Universe, the creator of everything and He is telling you how He is going to rescue your countrymen through you.  He is showing you some unbelievable miracles and you are questioning Him concerning if He has the right person, or if it doesn’t go as God is expecting?

What are you thinking Moses!

But that is just the thing. When we are afraid sometimes, we stop thinking. Moses is focused on his fears and his fears are hindering him from doing what God is leading him to do.

Fear can Keep Us from Doing Things God Wants Us to Do

Have you ever been afraid of doing what you think God wants you to do?  So often we think if God would just tell us what He wants me to do, that would make life so much easier.

The problem is that we don’t want God to tell us to do what He wants us to do.  We want Him to tell us to do what we want to do and if it is something different from that, we start to do just what Moses does.  We try to question God about it.  God you don’t really mean me, do you?  Lord have you completely thought through what you are doing?  Let’s go over your plan and I will help you think it through.

Serving and Free Time - Maybe you feel God has been urging you to start serving him in the church, but you are afraid that it will eat up your free time and you won’t enjoy life.

Full Time Service vs. Provision - Maybe you are feeling that God has been calling you to full time service in the church or in the mission field and you are afraid that you will not be able to afford to live if you quit your job and follow that call.

Evangelism vs. Being Liked - Maybe your feeling that God has been urging you to share your faith with some neighbors or coworkers but are afraid that they might not respond favorably and they will think poorly of you.

Those things can all make us afraid and Moses faced some of these fears as well.  If fear keeps you from following God, then how do you overcome fear so you can follow God?  How do we move from Fear to Faith?

Well, God gives Moses some practical helps that ultimately helped him face these fears and obey the Lord and be used in such a way that he would be known as a great and extraordinary man of faith.

The first thing we see here is that we are told to focus on God’s presence with us.  ( Exodus 3:11-12)   When you have experienced the presence of the Lord, you know what a great comfort it is when we are facing fears, even the fear of death.  Not only does His presence give us comfort, it gives us courage.  After Moses had this experience with God, he finally understood that God’s presence in our life is an awesome thing, especially when we are facing a fear of following God.

Listen to what Moses said near the end of his life,   "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

His Presence Provides Courage

We need to understand that having faith and experiencing God’s presence doesn’t mean that we are never fearful. It means that we can overcome our fear by our faith so our fear doesn’t incapacitate us.

When the Lord is leading us we can find comfort and take courage because He promises to be present with us.   Not only will His presence help us overcome our fears, but we are told also to focus on God’s Power through us.

Focus on His Power to Work Through You

Finally, if we are going to overcome fear to walk in obedience to the Lord, we need to focus on God’s provision for us.  There may be times when you just don’t think you can get through a circumstance and don’t think you can follow God in what He wants you to do.

He will provide just what you need to accomplish what He is calling you to do, just like He did for Moses.

Moses went out and followed the Lord and did the things God told him to do and God used this weak and fearful individual and built him into a great man of faith that was used to do the extraordinary.

Where are you today?  What Fears have got you to the point of thinking you aren’t able to follow the Lord in Faith?  Keep your focus on Him, on His presence, on His power to work in you and through you and on His provision for you during this time.

Live focused on God and live extraordinary.  God is good and desires to use us to not just do the ordinary but to accomplish extraordinary things through us for His own glory.

~Bits and pieces of sermon by Scott Kircher

(Exodus 3:2-22 and 4:1-17)