I remember the day I got my phone. My dad told me, I’m not giving this to you so you can call your friends. I am giving this to you so that your mom and I can contact you when we want. Meaning, when I call you, you better answer. Lola and I watched a movie the other night, and my dad called. Even at 32 years old, I felt obligated to walk out of the theater to answer the call. I resolved to text him instead, but for the next 20 minutes, I thought I “did something wrong.” Some names pop up on my phone that causes me to answer no matter what I am doing. There is power and significance in people’s names. But what happens when we do not recognize the significance behind someone’s name?
That is what we read in our text this week in Exodus. So far in, God has revealed His personal name to Moses, Yahweh. The creator of the universe and everything in it has a name and reveals Himself to His servant Moses. But Pharaoh responds, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?” Exodus 5:1-9.
Our biblical worldview causes us to live with the reality of Matthew 25:31-46, where there will be division and separation at the conclusion of history. Those who know the Lord and follow His example will experience eternity with the Lord. Those who do not know the Lord or follow His example will spend eternity separated from Him. The sheep knows the shepherd’s voice and recognizes His power and authority of His name.
I confess there are moments in my life where I live as Pharaoh did. I tend to lean on my understanding and do not acknowledge the Lord. I would never say, “who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice,” but my actions would suggest otherwise.
But thanks be to God, He has revealed Himself to us and has made a way to be redeemed through the finished work of the cross. May we seek Him, surrender to His authority and power, and join His work throughout the nations! Who’s voice are you going to submit to today?