Moses, who was a fugitive, lived in a foreign land now was sent by God to go back to Egypt and stood in front of Pharaoh v.10. Personally, he was pursued by Pharaoh for his murdering of an Egyptian. Also, God sent him to lead the Israelites out, and whom Pharaoh would not let go, not even under force v.19.
(1) 3:21 “I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty-handed. 3:22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters—thus you will plunder Egypt!”
[plunder] (NET) It is clear that God intended the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians, as they might a defeated enemy in war. They will not go out “empty.” They will “plunder” Egypt...So when the text says that they will ask their neighbors for things, it implies that they will be making many demands, and the Egyptians will respond like a defeated nation before victors. The spoils that Israel takes are to be regarded as back wages or compensation for the oppression (see also Deut 15:13).
It would be a battle and the result had already been set. Egypt would be defeated. Who won? Israel?
(2) The result of war was all set, not because of Israel, but because of Who God is. The idea of God will be with Moses or God sent Moses was repeated 3 times in v.12, 14, and 15.
3:11 Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 3:12 He replied, “Surely I will be with you,
Note, God did not say to Moses, "No problem, you could go to Pharaoh..." Instead, God said in v.12, "Surely I will be with you..." The problem is real, but God's presence is the key.
Note, God did not say to Moses, "No problem, you could go to Pharaoh..." Instead, God said in v.12, "Surely I will be with you..." The problem is real, but God's presence is the key.
(NET) It will make little difference who the servant is or what that servant’s abilities might be, if God is present. The mention of God’s presence is not a simple catch-phrase; it represents abundant provisions to the believer (see below on v. 14).
(3) 3:13 Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’—what should I say to them?”
3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’
His name is, "I am" v.14.
3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’
His name is, "I am" v.14.
(NET) So when God used the verb to express his name, he used this form saying, “I AM.” When his people refer to him as Yahweh, which is the third person masculine singular form of the same verb, they say “he is.”
The tense is present tense.
(NET) The idea of the verb would certainly indicate that God is not bound by time, and while he is present (“I AM”) he will always be present...The point is that Yahweh is sovereignly independent of all creation and that his presence guarantees the fulfillment of the covenant (cf. Isa 41:4; 42:6, 8; 43:10–11; 44:6; 45:5–7).
The LORD (Yahweh) v.15 (the same as "I am," but in 3rd person).
(BDB) the one who is: i.e. the absolute and unchangeable one; the existing, ever-living, as self-consistent and unchangeable; or the one ever coming into manifestation as the God of redemption; he will be it, i.e. all that his servants look for, he will approve himself (give evidence of being, assert his being...
Reflection: Do you believe in the all sufficiency of God? Will that be anything that He cannot conquer? Will He ever forget His people? Yes, God did not say we can or we are great. No use for such positive thinking. But, He said to Moses, "Surely, I will be with you." It does not matter who the servant is. In the NT, when we believe in Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. The God, whose name is "I am" lives inside of us!
Audrey
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