God called Moses to be his appointed servant. Moses' service would be to deliver the Israelites from their brutal captivity in Egypt.

The Israelites had been crying out for that deliverance. God heard their cries. He recalled the promises he had made to the patriarchs, the forefathers of the Israelite people. He was concerned for his people. And he was about to do something about it.

God acted through a miracle. From a burning bush, he told Moses that he was appointing him to be his emissary to call upon Pharaoh. He was to call for the Israelites' release from slavery.

Moses knew he would be asked if he was doing this on his own authority, or did he really have God's backing?

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. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14, NIV).

God's response to Moses is very important.

"I am" sent Moses to the Israelites. The God who is. The God who exists. The God who does not have to defend or justify himself to anyone because "he is who he is." He does not change -- not for anyone or anything.

He is the same God whom Jacob served, Isaac worshiped, and Abraham followed in faith. He is the same God who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and who crafted a beautiful home named Eden for Adam and Eve.

And he is the same God who still is today. Unchanging. Unconquerable. Unrelenting in grace and in his willingness to see your misery, hear your cries for help, and be concerned about your suffering.

And because he is God -- the one, the only, true God -- he is capable of doing something about it.

Lord God, thank you that you are who you are. You are the same God who loved the children of Israel and sent Moses to deliver them. You are the same God who loved lost sinners like me and sent Jesus, your own Son, to deliver me. May I always know you, the one true God, and your Son Jesus, whom you sent for my salvation.

Our Bible reading for Sunday, February 8, is Exodus 1:1 - 3:22, Matthew 26:1-30 and Psalm 19:1-6.

Header image based on "All the troubles lie on his shoulder" by Ossama, CC by-SA 2.0