Exodus 6:1-13 (NRSV)
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Chapter 6Then the Lord said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh: Indeed, by a mighty hand he will let them go; by a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land." Verse 2God also spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the Lord. Verse 3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name 'The Lord' I did not make myself known to them. Verse 4I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. Verse 5I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Verse 6Say therefore to the Israelites, 'I am the Lord, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. Verse 7I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians. Verse 8I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.'" Verse 9Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.
Verse 10Then the Lord spoke to Moses, Verse 11"Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land." Verse 12But Moses spoke to the Lord, "The Israelites have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?" Verse 13Thus the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them orders regarding the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, charging them to free the Israelites from the land of Egypt.
Devotion
This passage tells the story of Moses’ call by repeating a similar story about other prophets and almost anyone who receives a vocation. It tells the story of self-doubt. As Moses complains to God that the Israelites did not listen to him, God ignores Moses and sends him on to the pharaoh. Our vocations consist not so much of our abilities but what God can do through us. The tasks remain the same regardless of whether we believe we are competent. Key to our vocations is not our ability to be successful but our willingness to be obedient. God asks Moses to speak to the Israelites about what God would do for them if they were to be obedient (Exodus 6:6-8). Showing our obedience demonstrates our capacity to rely upon God. Serving God means taking the yoke of obedience.
Prayer
Teach us, Lord, that you have called us because you see not what we are but what we can become. Help us trust you for what you will make us. Amen.