“Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – appeared to me and said, I have watched over you and have seen what has been done in Egypt.”

Let’s set the stage: While tending sheep for his father-in-law, Moses saw a bush on Mt. Horeb – God’s mountain – that was burning but was not consumed by the flames. God spoke to him from the bush,  and Moses hid his face, afraid to look upon God.

Who wouldn’t do the same? Even the most vain, arrogant, self-centered person would fall on his face if confronted with God, in his unsurpassed power and unlimited glory.

Having gotten Moses’ attention, God told Moses in this 3:16, “I have watched over you.” He did this even though Moses and the other Jews were far from the Promised Land, in Egypt. Enslaved, mistreated and far from home, they cried out to their God in prayer and He saw, and He heard,  saying a few verses earlier in 3:7:

I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering.

Because God didn’t act right away, some might conclude that prayer doesn’t work or isn’t a first strategy when facing a problem. That happens all the time even today when people’s prayers aren’t immediately answered by a God dispensing mercies and bounties quicker than a microwave pops popcorn. But this is Exodus and we know the story that follows is all about answered prayers.

So we have faith, just like Moses did when God didn’t bring an end to the Jews’ suffering upon the first prayer that was wailed up to him by a despondent slave. Why did He let the slavery go on? Well, for starters, they had lost faith, fleeing from the land He gave them rather than believing He would provide their needs.  There had to be consequences for that. And more relevant to us today, He knew the Jews weren’t ready yet to trust and follow Moses, and that Moses was not ready to lead them. So He listened and watched and waited, with a good concern for His children, until it was time.

Then he lit that burning bush.

Does God respond immediately when we cry out to him? Maybe sometimes. But more likely, we’re not ready when we cry out, just as the Jews weren’t, so He watches over us, and as good Christians, we keep praying as we keep waiting patiently.

There’s something else really interesting with the “I have watched over you” phrase: It cuts both ways. What a comfort it is to the godly to have God watching over them. What could be better? A nudge on the tiller, a guide from the depths of the heart to the depths of the mind, a protection that ensures the path is the right one, even if it is at times rocky and steep.

But for those behaving in ungodly ways, having God watching over them is anything but a comfort. They have only two choices: to leave their ungodly ways so God can be a comfort, or to leave God and instead exalt sin. These people who don’t want God watching over them aren’t just other people; they’re us, too. Even as God’s children, when we sin we are leaving God, exalting the sin that He hates and telling ourselves He’s not watching. Is it worth it? No! Far too much experience shows us that leaving ungodly ways is always the better choice.

God knew Moses was godly and that the words “I have watched over you” would comfort him. They should be a comfort to us, too. If they’re not, it’s time to emulate Job 1:1 in our lives so God’s presence will be a comfort today and every day:

He feared God and shunned evil.

We might think that having God speak to us as directly as He spoke to Moses would be a pretty awesome thing, but Moses didn’t think so; he was not happy to be singled out by God. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” he asked God. The task laid out for him was terrifying and, he thought, far beyond his capabilities. And he was right. Alone, he was incapable of leading this stiff-necked tribe, let alone standing up to the Pharaoh, one of the most powerful men on the planet.

But God had been preparing Moses for a long time. He saw to it that Moses had been raised in Pharaoh’s palace and also had been mentored by good Jews. So, with God beside him, Moses did what was asked of him – so much more than he ever thought possible! This is what God had in mind when he placed these words in the Bible:

For nothing is impossible with God.(Luke 1:37)

Thought for the Day: I will live today as a day that will please God as He watches over me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for watching over me. Forgive me, please, for the times I haven’t wanted You to see what I was doing. When I behave like that, it makes me think like Moses, that I’m not worthy. How can you love me? But you are God Almighty and You do love me. Thank you for that, Father, and help me to bring You joy today as You do to me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.