Who Am I That I Should Go to Pharaoh?
By Hannah Bunting
In Exodus 3:11, we see Moses and God engage in a significant conversation that provides insights into God’s character and gives lessons that resonate with us today.
Leading up to this conversation, the remarkable story of God’s provision for Moses is told. During the first 40 years of his life, he is rescued as a Hebrew baby from genocide and is brought to be raised as an Egyptian prince in the same household of the leader who is executing his people.
As a young man, while the Hebrews were mistreated by the Egyptians as slaves for Pharaoh, Acts 7:22 describes how Moses was brought up in the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds. He was loyal to the Hebrews though, eventually defending one being wronged by an Egyptian and subsequently killing the offender. He understands on some level that he is supposed to bring deliverance to the Hebrews and appears ready to be their leader (Acts 7:25). But, when the Hebrews also reject him because of his brash actions, he flees to Midian where he becomes a shepherd, father, and husband over the course of the next 40 years.
At this point, God calls to Moses from a bush that is burning yet not consumed. After God gets his attention with this remarkable sight, He gives Moses a mission: to help God deliver the Israelites out of slavery by approaching Pharoah and asking him to release them.
We see a new Moses from earlier in the story, who shows trepidation at this great task. He is now humbled, perhaps allowing himself to be too modest, as he no longer is eager and zealous to lead the Hebrews out of their bondage. He seems comfortable in this new shepherding phase of life, a great contrast to his ambitions as a younger man in Egypt. In response to what he appears to view as a monstrous request, he has a series of questions or arguments for God. Most significantly, he asks “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
God’s answers to Moses are revealing of His nature. We see a kind, gentle, and patient Lord, who redirects Moses from being consumed with his own shortcomings and guides him to depend on His strength. He is reassuring as His responses usually contain some form of “I am with you.” He is slow to anger as His irritation is not kindled against Moses’ doubts until he begs God to choose someone else, even after he hears God’s encouragement and sees His miracles firsthand. And even so, instead of smiting Moses in his hesitations as one might expect an all-powerful being to do once angered, God still kindly offers help for Moses’ slow speech in the form of his brother Aaron speaking for him instead. Even though He, the maker of all mouths, would surely provide Moses with the words he needed to approach Pharaoh, He still generously provides other resources for him.
Perhaps the most powerful of God’s revelations during this exchange lies in His answer to Moses’ question about who he should say sent him. One’s eyes cannot help but be drawn to the all-capital letters on the page in this most significant reply. God answers with the iconic I AM WHO I AM, displaying His self-sufficiency and eternal presence, attributes that surpass human understanding.
It is a statement that can only grow in awesomeness the more it is dwelt upon. As Marty Pickup once explained it so poignantly, “No matter how far back in time you go, He is. No matter how far in the future you go, He is. No matter where you go in this world from one horizon to the next, He is. He is an active God, not dead and lifeless.” Just like His burning bush, He is undying. Unlike the paltry Egyptian gods, He is not merely connected to one aspect of nature, for He created it all.
It is in this battle cry, the soldiers of God’s army are to gain courage for whatever fearsome tasks are at hand in their Christian walk. They are not to trust in their own capabilities, but in the abilities of the living, active, everlasting, and unchanging God.
God shows us example after example through the scriptures that His people’s strength is found in having faith and relying on Him, not themselves. From the fall of Jericho to David beating the gargantuan Goliath - God even discouraged his kings from counting men and hoarding horses because He desired them to rely on Him alone.
Though Moses’ experience is unique, not many of us today will be called to stand up to the leader of the biggest empire on earth, it can certainly mirror our own insecurities in our Christian walk. We can feel fearful when we are called to share the Gospel, confront a friend about their sin, stand up in righteousness for something we know is important to God when no one else will, or simply let our light shine in this dark world. We can see our own feelings of inadequacy reflected in Moses’ heart-wrenching question: “Who am I to do this huge task?”
God emboldens us in similar ways as he did Moses, often exhibiting far more gentleness than we deserve. He even encourages us to come with our fears and doubts so He can assuage us (1 Peter 5:7). His reassurance through Jesus declaring “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” in Matthew 28:20 rings similar to his encouragement to Moses. If we trust Him, He will not let us fail in whatever His plan is for us. He has a purpose for us, and He will fulfill it (Psalm 138:8).
Let us shift our focus from our limitations to His limitless power…shift our fears from relying on ourselves to relying on Him. His raw power working in and around us will be what gives the growth to any act of faith (1 Cor 3:6). Who am I that God should use me? I am nothing. But the great I AM is with me, and because of that, I am able.