Mensa Otabil - God of the Generations
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We’re considering the life of Moses, and we are in Exodus chapter 3, verse number 6. Moreover, He said, «I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.» And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. God’s dealings with us are not in isolation; He may call us alone, but He does not see us alone. Though Moses is here alone on the far side of the desert in the presence of God, there is no one with him. Yet God introduces Himself to Moses, and when He introduces Himself, He doesn’t start with Moses. He says, «I’m the God of your fathers, I’m the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,» because our God is a God of generations. What He does with us today is part of what He has been doing before us.
When we look at our lives, we may think God is just dealing with us, but He deals with us in generational form. The call of Moses at this point in his life is based on the call He had given to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Why? Because if God had not called Abraham, there would be no people called the Hebrews. If God had not called Isaac, there would be no child called Jacob, who would be called Israel. And if God had not called Jacob, there would be no people in Egypt for Moses to go and deliver. So Moses' call seems like a personal call, but it’s a generational call; it’s part of what God started with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Unless and until we see God’s dealings with us generationally, our lives will not make sense, because many times we only see ourselves in the events of our lives. But the events of our lives are linked to other things. What you’re going through now is connected to what God wants to do in the future and has been doing in the past. We are part of the process; it’s like being in a factory—there is a process, and there are sequences in the process. God is working out His plans; He picks you at that point, but don’t ever think you are all that there is. There were people ahead of you, and there will be people coming after you.
So what happens when God introduces Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and Jacob? Something happens. If you watch, the Bible says the moment He did that, Moses hid his face. He saw the awesomeness of the moment; this is not just about him in the desert, with his struggles, pain, and failures. This is something bigger than him; the big God Himself is telling him he’s plugged into His generational purposes. He was so overcome and overwhelmed by the presence and the awesomeness of the moment that he hid his face.
When you see that God’s hand upon you is bigger than you and your experiences, that He is working on something far greater, you will hide your face, too. You will be overcome as well. He hid his face because he suddenly realized he was part of something bigger. Similarly, what God is doing with you and with me is connected; it is connected with what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary. It is connected with what the apostles did, what Peter did, what Paul did, what John did, and what all the men and women of God have been doing throughout human history.
Now it is your turn; God places you in and uses you. Understand, may you never miss the generational purposes of God in your life, and may He connect you generationally to your purpose. Let us pray: Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are a God of generations; connect me to Your eternal purposes in Jesus' name.» Amen and amen. Well, I trust that you know you are not alone; you are part of a generational purpose of God. Pastor Mesa Otable, shalom, peace, and life to you.