Midweek Lenten Worship February 25, 2026
“Names” Exodus 3-4
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
The book of Exodus is a book about God’s deliverance. God rescues His people. He saves them over and over again.
On Ash Wednesday I told you how two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, brought God’s deliverance of sure death to Jewish boys. One of those boys was Moses. His name meant “Draw him out of the water.” He was supposed to be one of the boys who was drowned in the Nile, but God didn’t let that happen. He saved him, rescued him, delivered him. And now 80 years later God had something for him to do.
God spoke to Moses, “And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:9-11)
That is a good question, “Who am I?” Have you ever asked that question when something is asked of you that is much bigger than your abilities and capabilities? Who am I? I’m to help with this project? I’m to lead this venture? You know – I’m too old. You know – I’m too young. You know – I’m not smart enough. You know – I don’t have the time. We have good reasons not to go.
Moses, the child God rescued for a purpose, didn’t want to do what God wanted him to do. He says, “What if I go and tell them that I am to be their leader leading them from slavery to freedom and they say, “God did not appear to you.” What do I say then? (Paraphrase of Exodus 4:1) God gave him a stick, a staff. He could do signs, miracles with it. The stick turned into a snake. Then the snake turned back to a stick. God said, “Put your hand into your coat and bring it out – it will be ugly white – leprous white. Put it back in the coat – it will turn back like it was. If they aren’t convinced that God is sending you take some water from the Nile, pour it on the ground and it will become blood.”
God, strongly said, “Now, Go!!” But the miserly words of Moses, “Who Am I?” persisted. I have never been eloquent. I can’t get the right words out. I stutter. “I am slow of speech and tongue.” Lord, I can’t go. And Moses, the miracle baby, the “Who Am I?” grown-up, had one final word, “Oh my Lord, please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13)
Reed Lessing, in his book on Exodus says, “Moses’ question “Who am I” is always the wrong question…What’s the right question? “God, who are you?” (Page 58, Deliver Us)
There is only one God. The names that are used for Him describe Him. In Isaiah 9 we read, “He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Verse 6) In Revelation we read, “I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever.” (Revelation 1:17-18)
God, who are you? That is the question that we get to ask, and then we stand in amazement as we watch His answer. Acts 4:12 says of this name, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Of this name of Jesus we are told, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) “They shall call him Immanuel – which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23, also Isaiah 7:14)
Moses asked the wrong question, “Who am I to go before Pharaoh…?” He looked at himself and found himself incapable of the task. What is the question that he needed to ask and what do you and I need to ask, (it is the only right question) – “God, who are you?”
In Exodus 3 we read, “Then Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name? what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say to the people of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)
God has names that describe who He is and what He does. Jesus, with full knowledge of God’s description in Exodus 3 of “I AM has sent me to you”, says in John’s Gospel:
I am the bread of life. (John 6:48)
I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)
I am the door that leads to abundant life. (John 10:9-10)
I am the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11-15)
I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)
I am the way, and the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
I am the vine. (John 15:1-6)
The name of Jesus is the name of our hope and confidence, strength and salvation. Philippians 2 says, “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Verses 10-11)
When you look at the account of Exodus, the story is not so much a story about the people of Israel and what they did, it is a story about God and what He did. It is the same with us. Our story is God’s story. We just sang “Borning Cry” (WOV 770) and this hymn speaks of God’s place in our life – from birth to death and into eternity – God says, “I will be there with just one more surprise.”
During these days ask the right question of God. The right question is not, “Who Am I?”, the right question is: “God, who are you?” He will show you and you’ll find full life in His name. Amen!!
