I greatly enjoy the book of Exodus (probably because my mentor loves it so much :)). This week in class our topic was “God’s Global Purpose” aka “MISSIONS WEEK” in which we talked about different missions in the Bible and also historically. We were reading the story about Moses bringing the Israelites out of slavery when I stumbled across a verse that I have read many times before.
“So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.” Exodus 6:9 (NLT)
I read this and all the sudden it hit me, I let my situations control when I hear God speak, and when I don’t hear him at all. It is not that God isn’t talking, but rather, I REFUSE to listen. I would often times this God was distant and didn’t want anything to do with me when I struggled or become overwhelmed, however I look at the Israelites and they too REFUSED to listen. God was right there with them during that time and in Exodus its talks about God hearing the groans and cries from his people. God was there with them!
I went to God for forgiveness and with great gratitude when He brought it to my attention. How many times have I done this to God and refused to hear what he was saying? More times than I could count. How many times have I allowed my situation to become bigger than God? More times than I wish to know. How many times have I become discouraged with my situation and allowed that to control my life and heart? I did it this week when I was sick.
Later in the week God opened my eyes to the verses that come right before verse 9:
And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—God Almighty—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. 4 And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. 5 You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.
6 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. 8 I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the LORD!’” Exodus 6:2-8
I read this and sat back to try to swallow the fact that God NEVER revealed that he was LORD to Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. However here he is telling the Israelites 3 times in a row that he is Lord. He wanted them to know who he was and that he had heard them. He also revealed to Moses that the covenant he made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was a promise I fulfilled in their lives, they did make it to Canaan. And as I let all of this sink in for a bit I heard the voice of the Lord saying to me, “I am the Lord, and until you can fully grasp that fact your situation will always be bigger than I am. However I will tell you again, I am the Lord! I have heard you groan just like I listened to the Israelites when they were enslaved and oppressed. I am listening to you. The situations in your life, no matter how small or large, are not greater than I, for I am the Lord. You must understand this for our relationship to strengthen. I am the Lord.”
He is Lord and he can handle my problems, small and large. My situations are important to him and my life and important to him too. Even in my being sick this past week that is important to him. I find it so beautiful when God takes the time to express his heart to us and be intimate with us when we are struggling and even better, when he removes the vales from our eyes when we can’t see. What a beautiful Lord we have. What a loving Papa he is.
I leave you with a Psalm from David (a man after God’s own heart) and a few words that spoke into me last night during a time of worship. I will stop trying to hide my quilt from God, for he is my hiding place and he knows the best pathway for me. Rather than just knowing God sings songs of victory over me but refusing to hear them, I want to hear them loud and clear!
“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
8 The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Psalm 32:5, 7, 8-9
