As we conclude Genesis, let’s quickly remember God’s three promises to Abraham: Land, nation, and leader. Where do we stand with the three aspects of God’s promise?

Land: They’re in Egypt. Nice land, not theirs.
Nation: There are only 70 of them. Big family, but not a nation.
Leader: The last verse of Genesis sums this up well: So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (50:26) So cheery. The point: our only “leader” is very dead – we’re still waiting for the Seed!

Now, as we start Exodus, there is a 400 year gap between the events at the end of Genesis and the events of Exodus. And all is not well in Egypt. A new pharaoh is in power who is unfamiliar with Joseph’s story. He looks around his land, sees this mighty group of foreign people who have remained separate unto themselves, and obviously comes to the conclusion that they are a great threat to national security. The answer? Enslave them. Oppress them. Kill their sons. The midwives didn’t cooperate with that, so then he ordered all the baby boys to be thrown into the Nile!

Now, if you were an Israelite living in the middle of these circumstances, what might you be thinking about God? [Remember, it has been 400 years since His last recorded interaction with His people. They're in slavery. Their children are being brutally murdered. Oh, and don't forget - they have no written Scriptures at this point - Moses was the one who penned Genesis!]  God must not know! Maybe He doesn’t care? Are the gods of Egypt too powerful for Him? Was He just a god of the past, living and active only for our fathers?

In the middle of this, one small boy, miraculously spared by his mother’s great faith and Pharaoh’s daughter’s compassion, grows up to be the man we know as Moses. Moses grows up, kills an Egyptian for mistreating one of the Hebrews, and flees to Midian. At this point, please throw out any mental images that are coming to mind from Dreamwork’s Prince of Egypt. Overall, good movie. But, I don’t think it’s likely that Moses had no idea who he was.

And then, God shows up.
In a burning bush.
In the middle of nowhere.
To a runaway murderer (who stutters).

And this is awesome: as God explains to Moses what He will do, He directly answers the questions we mentioned above.

God must not know! I have surely seen the affliction of My people… for I am aware of their sufferings. (3:7)
Maybe He doesn’t care? …and have given heed to their cry (3:7) …I am indeed concerned… (3:16)
Are the gods of Egypt too powerful for Him? I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians… (3:8)
Was He just a god of the past, living and active only for our fathers? I AM… this is My memorial-name to all generations. (3:15)

God never forgot! He is the I AM – He never ceased to exist, nothing can spin out of His control. He is the self-existent, completely powerful, faithful promise-keeper.

Perhaps you, at times, have felt that God has forgotten you. Abandoned you. Has lost control.

Friend, He is the I AM.

His plans and timetable are often far different from our own. We never fully understand His ways and why certain things happen. But He is indeed concerned. Trust Him even when you don’t understand Him. Trust Him because you don’t understand Him – His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than ours. Hallelujah – I wouldn’t want me in control of the universe!

Psalm 103:1-7 (NLT)
I bless the holy name of God with all my heart.
Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell.
He surrounds me with loving-kindness and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
He gives justice to all who are treated unfairly.
He revealed his will and nature to Moses and the people of Israel.