Justin Houtz

Exodus 3, Luke 9

DateVersionReading Plan
February 22, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Observation

Exodus 3

Exod. 3:11 – Moses responded with hesitation and even protest to God’s call for him to go to Pharaoh and bring His children out of Israel. The BBC provides a helpful quote from J. Oswald Sanders worth sharing in whole:

His inventory of disqualifications covered lack of capability (3:11), lack of message (3:13), lack of authority (4:1), lack of eloquence (4:10), lack of special adaptation (4:13), lack of previous success (5:23), and lack of previous acceptance (6:12). A more complete list of disabilities would be difficult to conjure up. But instead of pleasing God, his seeming humility and reluctance stirred His anger. “The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” (4:14). In point of fact, the excuses Moses advanced to show his incapacity were the very reasons for God’s selection of him for the task.

The TGCBC also points out that Moses’ “resistance is more from fear than humility” but that the Lord “promises His presence (Exod. 3:12a), the antidote to all fear.”

Exod. 3:12 – The sign that God had sent Moses would come after the people were brought out of Egypt. The FSB explicates how “It seems odd that God would give a reassuring sign to Moses only after he left Egypt. However, He may be referring to the burning bush, meaning that the encounter at the bush—or the miracle of the bush itself—was the sign given to Moses that God would be with him.”

Exod. 3:21-22 – God tells Moses that He would give His people favor and not leave Egypt empty, mentioning the women specifically and that, by the time God was finished with them, the Egyptians would gladly give them anything they asked.

Luke 9

Luke 9:23 – Jesus told all in attendance that if they were to come after Him, they would need to take up their cross daily and follow Him. The qualifier, “daily”, is only present in Luke’s gospel and indicates a level of constant and intentional self-sacrifice.

Luke 9:27 – Jesus’ statement that there are some who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God is difficult to determine. Commentaries are mixed on its meaning, some saying that it is a reference to Jesus’ transfiguration (ex. CSB Notes and BBC) while others say this is unlikely given that the transfiguration occurs only six days later (ex. FSB Notes).

Luke 9:54 – James and John asking Jesus whether they should tell fire to come down and consume the people who did not receive Him recalls Elijah’s actions in 2 Kings 1:9-16.

Application

Exodus 3

Moses’ resistence to God’s commission to be the agent of rescue for His people illuminates something vital. Even as followers of Christ and empowered by the Spirit, we can claim inadequacy for His calling on our lives to be His ambassadors. This is a trust issue and a failure to realize that it is not us but God doing the work. As our relationship with Christ strengthens and sin is revealed, we can begin to perceive that our sin inhibits our ability to carry out the glorious task to which we have been assigned, thus crippling our witness. Instead, we must respond in faith and in full assurance that He is with us in accompaniment as we speak His name, proclaim His gospel and go and make disciples of the nations.

Luke 9

Making a particularly personal impact today were Jesus’ words that I must take up my cross daily in order to follow Him and that in trying to save my life I will lose it. My sinful tendency is toward self-sufficiency, making this is a difficult but crucial truth to behold. I am currently injured with SI joint issues and the difficulty in physical mobility provides a sobering rejoinder to selfish pursuits of personal health. While such endeavors are not a bad thing in themselves—indeed bodily training is of some value (1 Tim. 4:8)—they must be done with right motives and fully surrendered to the pursuit of godliness which is of value in every way.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to boldly step into my calling as Your ambassador and proceed with confidence in the sharing of Your gospel. Help me to see that it is your work being done. Lord, keep me from not reserving myself in selfish manner, certain in the knowledge that I will lose everything I sinfully try to guard.

Resources