Mensa Otabil - The Lord Will Be With You (10/02/2025)
Exodus Chapter 3, Verse 12. So He said, «I will certainly be with you, and this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.» This was God’s response to Moses. Moses had expressed his inadequacy about facing Pharaoh and confronting the Hebrews, who had rejected him. God simply said to him, «Certainly, I will be with you.»
There is nothing more comforting and assuring than those words from the Creator of the universe. Pharaoh and the royal house of Egypt were against Moses, but God was with him. The Hebrew slaves did not want Moses as their leader, but God was with him. It is almost as if God patted Moses on the back and said, «Relax, I’m here. I’m with you.» God is saying, «Yes, I know all the things that are bothering your mind, the things you are afraid of, the people you fear, and your own insecurities, but I’m with you.» When God is with you, it is more than anything else that is against us, and that is what God said to Moses.
After God assured Moses that He was going to be with him, He then gave him a sign. The sign was something physical that would happen in the future with Moses. It is interesting that the sign God gave to Moses didn’t seem to respond to his fears. Remember, he was afraid of going to face Pharaoh, and he was afraid of going back to the Hebrews because they had rejected him. God gave him a sign: «You will come and worship at this mountain.» This is the sign I’m giving to you: «You will deliver the people and bring them to this mountain.» How does that correspond to «I’m afraid of Pharaoh, and I don’t think the Hebrews will accept me?»
There are two implications here. The first one is that God says, «You will deliver the people from the hand of Pharaoh.» This means that there is going to be a confrontation between you and Pharaoh and his system, but you’re going to win. How do I know I’m going to win? Because you will deliver the people. God indirectly is saying to Moses, «Don’t be afraid; you’re going to win this one. You’re going to deliver the people and bring them out of captivity.» The fear you have will be taken care of because of the victory God is going to give you.
The second thing God says to him is that when you take them out of Egypt, you will bring them to this mountain, the same mountain where he saw the burning bush. You’re going to bring them to this mountain, and you will worship here. How does that correspond to Moses’s fear that the people will not understand him? Well, if he delivers the people and they follow him to the place where he met God, it means they will accept him as their leader. God is saying to Moses, «It’s going to be all right.»
However, the way He tells Moses it’s going to be all right is not by outlining the process, but by showing him how the end is going to look. In the end, you will deliver them from Pharaoh’s hand, which means you will deal with Pharaoh. Ultimately, you will bring the people to this mountain. The people will follow you; they will respond to you. God has a way of revealing His will that doesn’t always correspond to our desires. We want Him to say, «Oh, I’ll fight your enemies,» or give us a direct word, but He tells us the end. He reveals how things are going to conclude, and by believing in that end, He manages the process.
So, I don’t know what you’re going through now, but God has fixed the end for you, and it will be good. If you trust Him, He will be with you. Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You know the end from the beginning. I trust You to bring me out of every battle with triumph. In Jesus' name, Amen.» God is with you, and He will give you the victory. I am Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom. Peace and life to you.