In Exodus 3 Moses is out with his father-in-law’s sheep. He sees a bush that is burning, but is not consumed and he decides to go see it. As Moses approaches God speaks to him out of the bush.

God tells Moses to remove his shoes because he is standing on holy ground. In some cultures, people remove their shoes for worship because they are standing in the presence of God, holy ground. It is good for us to remember that every time we come to worship we are entering a holy place. Something about us should change.

God introduces himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses is afraid and hides his face. God tells Moses that he has heard the cries of the Israelites and is going to free them from the Egyptians. They will be brought to the land of milk and honey. Moses is the one who will speak to Pharaoh about letting his people go.

Moses asks who he is that God thinks he should be the one to do this thing. In fact, Moses is probably the only one who could go see Pharaoh. It is true that he has committed a crime and so it might be dangerous, but Moses has been accepted as Pharaoh’s grandson, the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He is free to come into the pharaoh’s court as a member of the family so to speak.

Then Moses questions whether the Israelites will listen to him. How is he supposed to convince them that he has

spoken with God? God tells Moses His name, “I AM WHO I AM.” In Hebrew, the present and future tense look the same so this phrase also means “I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE,” a fitting way for us to understand who God is, not to be defined by us but determined by His own will. The word, which is translated LORD, is Yahweh, which comes from the tetragrammaton YHWH derived from the root word “to be.”

God tells Moses that the people will listen and the elders will join him in speaking to Pharaoh. But, Pharaoh will have to be persuaded to agree to let the people go.

The chapter ends with God saying that the people of Israel will go with plunder freely given by the Egyptians. The woman will be given jewelry of gold and silver. This becomes significant later on.

In Exodus 4 Moses is still questioning whether the people will believe this is God’s plan. God gives him three signs to perform: turning a staff into a snake and back again; turning his hand leprous and restoring it; and turning water into blood.

Moses then gives the excuse that he doesn’t speak well and God says that he will send his brother Aaron along to speak for him. Moses has no more excuses and asks Jethro’s permission to return to Egypt. Jethro agrees and Moses takes his family to Egypt. Aaron met up with Moses and they did as God commanded. The people believed and worshiped God.

How many times when we are asked to do something for God or the church do we make excuses? Do we ask for signs to convince us? Are we as reticent as Moses? If God truly wants us to do something for Him he will remove all of the obstacles that we put in His way. Perhaps it is best just to say “YES!”

As Matthew 19 begins the Pharisees test Jesus by asking when it is appropriate to divorce. Jesus answers that it is never appropriate because in marriage the two become one flesh. They press him harder since there is a law in the Torah that allows a certificate of dismissal. Jesus says that it is their hard-heartedness that makes divorce allowable, but only in the case of the wife committing adultery. The disciples question him by saying that if that is the only way that divorce is allowable perhaps no one should get married at all. Jesus responds that only those called to celibacy should remain single and celibate.

Some children are brought to Jesus and the disciples resist, but Jesus that children should not be stopped from coming to him because to such as these does the kingdom belong. This is a repetition of an earlier teaching about becoming humble like a child.

A man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus answers that he should keep the commandments. He is asked which ones and gives some. The man says that he keeps those commandments. Jesus, looking into the man’s heart, says that he must sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor. The man loves his money and cannot do this, so he leaves.

The disciples ask who can be saved and Jesus says that for us it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Peter acknowledges that they have left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus says they will sit on twelve thrones and judge the tribes of Israel. Then he ways that all who have left house of family or possessions for his sake will inherit eternal life.

Is Jesus really saying that we must physically give up everything in order to follow him? Perhaps, for some this is true. What is most important is the willingness to give everything up to do what God wants, or more appropriately to trust God for all that is in ones’ life and to entrust all that has been given back to God. We can do nothing on our own to deserve heaven but God makes it possible when we put our trust in him.