Identity: Moses, Exodus 3-4

When starting out this year of peace on the blog, I knew there were so many things that knock us off our game, things that rob our peace and steal our confidence. There are so many external things, but just as many internal. This month I was thinking about focusing on self-worth, but really the underlying issue of having low self-value or esteem is that we have not fully realized (made real within us) all that God has given us, in who He is, in who Christ is, and in what the Holy Spirit does for us. So, I think it is good for us to focus on who we are and Who values us beyond all measure rather than focus on the negativity that we may sometimes feel or the identity questions that we may have about ourselves. So, this month, we are looking at Identity in God.

Identity in God

It is typical to consider, and indeed I even struggled not to write, identity in ‘Christ’. But as I look into this subject, what I find is once again the same God, from Genesis to Revelation. The same ideas that we claim in Christ as readily available in God, in the Old Testament. I suppose that is not surprise since we discuss the three-in-one, the triune God. One God, three manifestations. So, let us consider today a powerful manifestation in the Old Testament.

Moses

Many of us know the story of Moses, but I admit that my readings have not been careful enough, not detailed enough. Consider the conversation at the burning bush:

Moses -Who am I that I should do this thing?

God - I will be with you. They will listen to you.  Ex 3:11-12, 18

Moses - They won’t believe me.

God - I will show them. Ex 4:1-9

Moses - I can’t speak well enough.

God- I made you and formed your mouth. Ex 4:10-12

Moses - Send someone else I am not worthy.

God - Your brother will accompany you and be your mouth. I will help both of you speak and teach you what to do. Ex 4:13

Moses is often listed among those who have self-esteem issues in the Bible, but I hadn’t stopped to read carefully until recently. Look at God’s responses to Moses’s excuses:

I am not enough. – God is; God is with you.

They won’t let me. – God will handle them.

I’m really not enough. – God made you and formed you by his hand.

I can’t. – God will go with you and give you companions. You will do this.

I can do all things

It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant we may feel, do you see that it is God who fulfills the mission? It is God that fills the missing parts and inadequacies and everything in between? Do you see that it is God who made us, inadequacies and all, He knows us better than we know ourselves; He knows what we need. God is enough, I don’t have to be. God is with me; I can do all things with Him. God is with you; YOU can do all things.

So, you see it isn’t necessary to wait until the New Testament to verify the verse ‘I can do all things through him who strengthens me,’ (Philippians 4:13). God is with us and He is enough for all our shortcomings.