56_Which “I” do we listen to

Ex 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

Ex 5:22,23 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Ex 6:6-8 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Listen in silence because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God.” This is a timeless truth: the voices we listen to shape our faith, our decisions, and ultimately our destiny.

In Exodus 6:6-8, Moses finds himself caught in a cacophony of voices. On the one hand, God’s voice proclaimed His promises: “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians…” On the other hand was the defiant voice of Pharaoh, declaring, “I will not let Israel go.” There was Moses’ own voice, filled with despair: “Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people.”

These three voices are representative of our own experiences in life. There is the voice of opposition from the world, the voice of doubt within ourselves, and the voice of assurance from God. The question is, which “I” do we listen to?

Pharaoh’s voice is the voice of rebellion. It represents resistance to the will of God, a refusal to follow His plans. This voice can come from those around us—friends, adversaries, or those in power. It seeks to intimidate us, breed fear, and discourage us from obeying God. We need to expect this, so that we do not become discouraged. The Lord has warned us, “In the world you will have tribulation.” We should not expect the world, which is in rebellion against God, to encourage us in doing His will.

Then there is our own voice—the voice of self-doubt. Like Moses, we can easily become disheartened when our efforts seem to make things worse. “Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name,” Moses lamented, “he has done evil to this people.” When we focus on our limitations or the immediate outcome of our actions, we are tempted to question God’s promises. Scripture reminds us in Jeremiah 17:9 that “the heart is deceitful above all things.” The voice of our flesh can lead us into despair and paralyze our faith.

But Moses chose to obey the voice of God—a voice that remained unshaken by the turmoil of the moment. God’s words are a beacon of hope and assurance. He reminds Moses of His identity: “I am Yahweh.” This name, meaning “to be,” underscores that God is the eternal, unchanging “I Am,” the one who was, who is, and who will always be.

God’s message to Moses emphasizes this. First, He is the God of the past. “I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,” He declares. This recalls His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God reminds Moses of His faithfulness in keeping His covenant, preserving His people during times of famine, and delivering them from enemies. Reflecting on God’s faithfulness in the past gives us confidence to trust Him in the present.

Second, He is the God of the present. He says, “I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel, whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.” God is not a distant or oblivious observer. He is fully aware of His people’s suffering. In Exodus 3:7, He tells Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people… I know their sufferings.” Isaiah 63:9 adds, “In all their affliction he was afflicted.” God is present with His people in their pain, providing comfort and assurance.

Finally, He is the God of the future. In Exodus 6:6-8, He gives seven promises – the seven “I wills”:

“I will bring you out.” God promises deliverance from the forces that oppose our loyalty to God, the external forces of evil.

“I will rescue you from their bondage.” He assures them that they will be free from their slavery to external forces.

“I will redeem you.” This promise speaks of God reclaiming His people as His own, to be his own possession.

“I will take you as My people.” God reaffirms his covenant relationship with his people, binding Himself to them as their God.

“I will be your God.” He offers His presence, provision, protection, and guidance.

“I will bring you into the land.” God promises to lead them into the inheritance He prepared for them.

“I will give it to you as a heritage.” The land of Canaan is a gift from God, an inheritance to be received, not earned.

These promises reveal the fullness of God’s plan—past, present, and future. For the Israelites, this meant trusting God even when circumstances seemed dire. It required obedience to His instructions, faith in His provision, and readiness to act when He commanded.

The same is true for us. God’s promises define our identity and our destination. But we must choose to listen to His voice rather than all others. As the Lord taught in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:15), the “good soil” represents those who “hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” To cultivate this good soil, we must clear our hearts of distractions and fear, doubt, or worldly cares—so that God’s word will take root.

Moses struggled to convey God’s promises to the Israelites. Exodus 6:9 says, “Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.” When we surrender to sin, fear, or doubt, it’s hard to believe God’s voice. Feedom comes when we focus on His promises rather than our circumstances.

We must examine the voices we allow to influence us. Are we listening to the voice of the world, which opposes God’s truth? Are we relying on our own understanding, which can lead us astray? Or are we tuning our hearts to the voice of God, which offers hope, guidance, and strength?

God calls us to rest in His promises and trust in His faithfulness. Like the Israelites, we must step out in obedience, even when the path is uncertain. We must obey his commandments and instructions, trusting that He will supply strength and victory. And we must set our eyes on the inheritance He has prepared for us, confident that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

So, which “I” will you listen to today? Will it be the “I will not” of the world, the “I cannot” of your own doubts, or the “I will” of God’s unwavering promises? Let us silence the voices of rebellion and self-doubt and incline our hearts to the voice of the Great I Am. For His word alone is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. God bless.