AGENDA – I AM WHO I AM

OPENING PRAYER - Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to read and study Your Word. Please guide our thoughts and open our hearts to understand the truths You want to reveal. In Jesus' name, Amen.
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – A NEW KING IN TOWN Now a new king arose over Egypt, 
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – THE BIRTH OF MOSES Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman.
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – MOSES FLEES TO MIDIAN One day, after Moses had grown up,
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – GOD CALLS MOSES - Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – MOSES RETURNS TO EGYPT So Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey,
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – THE PLAGUES Then the Lord said to Moses,
READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – THE TENTH PLAGUE: DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,
QUESTIONS FOR THE JOURNEY
These questions dive deep into the humanity of Moses and the complex nature of the Exodus story. They challenge the "Sunday School" version of these events and ask us to look at the grit, doubt, and transformation involved in a life of faith.
1.	Moses is one of the most important biblical figures, yet one of the first things we learn about Moses is that he killed an Egyptian and hid the body. How does this fit with your childhood image of Moses? What might we learn from this part of Moses' life story?
The Human Complexity of Moses
Most childhood images of Moses portray him as a stoic, white-bearded hero holding stone tablets. Learning that he committed a violent act and attempted a cover-up is jarring because it paints him as a fugitive rather than a saint.
The Lesson: This part of the story suggests that God does not choose people because they are perfect or "clean." It shows that a person’s worst mistake doesn’t have to be their final chapter. It also highlights Moses’ deep—albeit misplaced—passion for justice and his identity as a Hebrew, which God eventually refines from vigilante justice into divine leadership.
2.	Moses is taking his usual, daily walk with his sheep when God appears to him in the burning bush. The Bible tells us that Moses had to "turn aside" to see and encounter God. What might this say to us about how we see and encounter God? Have you ever had to step off your normal path in order to experience God more fully? What was that like? Have you ever had to step off your normal path in order to experience God more fully? What was that like?
The Power of "Turning Aside"
The burning bush wasn't necessarily a loud explosion; it was a quiet anomaly. Moses had to choose to stop his routine to investigate. 
The Spiritual Insight: This suggests that God often speaks in the "margins" of our busy lives. If Moses had stayed on his schedule, he would have missed his calling.
The Personal Path: Stepping off the "normal path" often feels like an interruption—a delayed flight, a sudden illness, or a period of unemployment. While these moments are frustrating, they create the stillness required to hear things we usually drown out with productivity.
3.	Moses has an amazing encounter with God, but he still doesn't feel "good enough" to answer God's call. Moses worries that he isn't eloquent in speech, and he asks God to send someone else. Have you ever felt "not good enough" to serve God? How might God's response to Moses speak to you?
The "Not Good Enough" Syndrome
Moses’ insecurity is incredibly relatable. Even after seeing a miracle, his first instinct is to list his flaws (his speech impediment). 
God’s Response: God doesn't argue with Moses about his talent; He reminds Moses who created his mouth. God’s response suggests that availability matters more than ability. God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. If you feel "not good enough," you are actually in the perfect position to rely on God's strength rather than your own ego.
4.	Throughout the story of the plagues, the Bible tells us again and again that Pharaoh's "heart was hardened." What do you think that means?
What is a "Hardened Heart"?
In the biblical context, a hardened heart is often compared to stone or cold clay. It represents a loss of empathy and a stubborn refusal to be moved by the suffering of others or the truth of God. 
The Meaning: It is a state where a person becomes spiritually "brittle." They are no longer reachable by reason, compassion, or even miraculous signs. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened because he prioritized his power and economy over the humanity of the Israelites.
5.	Sometimes it is Pharaoh himself who hardens his heart, and sometimes the Bible says that God hardens Pharaoh's heart. What do you think the difference might be between those two descriptions? What are the effects of a hardened heart in the Bible? What effects do you see today of hardened hearts?
Personal vs. Divine Hardening
The shift between Pharaoh hardening his own heart and God hardening it is a profound theological tension. 
The Difference: Many scholars suggest that Pharaoh began by hardening his own heart (rebellion). Eventually, God "hardened" it in the sense of confirming Pharaoh in the choice he already made. It’s the idea that if you insist on a path of darkness, God will eventually allow you to experience the full consequences of that path.
Effects Today: A hardened heart leads to isolation, cruelty, and an inability to change. Today, we see this in "echo chambers" where people refuse to hear the pain of others, or in the "callousness" that develops when we become indifferent to global suffering.
6.	This chapter tells of the first Passover, and the institution of the Passover meal that Jews observe to this day. You may see some similarities in this story to that of Jesus' final days. The Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples was likely a Passover meal (Mark 14:12-25), a branch of hyssop is used to feed Jesus sour wine when he is crucified (John 19:29), and Jesus is referred to in John 1:29 as the Passover Lamb. How might we understand those parts of the life of Jesus in light of this story?
Jesus as the Passover Lamb
The parallels between the Exodus and the life of Jesus are intentional "typologies" in the New Testament. 
Element 	The First Passover (Exodus)	The Life of Jesus (Gospels)	
The Lamb	A lamb without blemish is sacrificed to save the firstborn.	Jesus is called the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world.	
The Blood	Placed on the doorposts to turn away death.	Symbolized by the wine at the Last Supper, representing a new covenant.	
The Hyssop	Used to apply blood to the doors.	Used to offer Jesus a drink while he was on the cross.	
The Result	Deliverance from physical slavery in Egypt.	Deliverance from the "slavery" of sin and death.	
The Insight: Understanding Jesus through the lens of Passover shifts the view of the crucifixion from a tragic execution to a purposeful act of liberation. It suggests that just as God rescued Israel from a literal empire, He uses Jesus to rescue humanity from a spiritual one. 

NEXT STEPS 
1.	Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush is called a theophany, a revelation or showing of God. The Bible is full of stories of theopanies. Look at some of the other stories of God showing up to people, like Isaiah 6:1-6, Luke 3:21-22, and Revelation 1:9-19. What do you notice about these stories? How are they similar? What are the differences?
Theophanies: When God Shows Up
When we look at Moses (Exodus 3), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-6), Jesus’ baptism (Luke 3:21-22), and John (Revelation 1:9-19), several patterns emerge:
Similarities:
Overwhelming Awe: In almost every case, the human response is fear or falling face-down. God’s presence is "heavy" and often accompanied by sensory intensity—fire, loud voices, or brilliant light.
Purification or Preparation: These encounters aren't just for show; they always precede a mission. Isaiah is cleansed with a coal; Moses is told to take off his sandals; John is given a message for the churches.
The Heaven-Earth Bridge: Theophanies often involve elements of both worlds (a physical bush, a physical bird, or a voice from the sky), showing God breaking into our reality.
Differences:
The Setting: Moses is in a lonely desert; Isaiah is in the majestic Temple; Jesus is at a public river; John is in exile on an island. God isn't "stuck" in holy buildings; He appears where people are.
The Form: God uses different "masks" to communicate. For Moses, it’s a consuming fire; for Jesus, the Holy Spirit appears as a gentle dove; for John, Jesus appears as a glorified King with eyes like fire.
2.	When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, he tells Moses two of his names. One is "I am who I am" and the other is "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." What might each of those names tell us about God? Look at some other names of God in the Bible (Genesis 17:7-13, Judges 6:24, Isaiah 9:6, James 1:17). What might these many names teach us about God? What names of God have been important to you?
The Names of God
The names God gives Moses—and the others throughout the Bible—act like different windows into His nature.
"I AM WHO I AM" (Yahweh): This speaks to God’s self-existence. He isn't created, He doesn't change, and He doesn't depend on anyone else. He simply is. It’s a name of ultimate power and mystery.
"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob": This is His covenant name. It tells us He is a God of history and relationships. He isn't a distant force; He is a God who keeps His promises to specific people across generations.
Other Biblical Names:
El Shaddai (Genesis 17:1): "God Almighty"—the source of all sufficiency and fruitfulness.
Yahweh Shalom (Judges 6:24): "The Lord is Peace"—revealed when Gideon was in deep fear.
Prince of Peace / Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6): Names that emphasize His wisdom and leadership.
Father of Lights (James 1:17): A reminder that He is the unchanging source of every good gift.
Personal Importance:
Many people find that different names matter in different seasons. If you are anxious, Yahweh Shalom (Peace) might be the name you cling to. If you feel like your past defines you, the "God of Jacob" (who loved a flawed "wrestler") might be more resonant.
CLOSING PRAYER - Lord, thank you for this time of study and for Your Word. As we leave, please help us to carry the truths we've learned into our daily lives and to live out Your teachings. May we continue to grow in faith and reflect Your love to others. Amen.