More Than Adequate

GETTING STARTED

The house where we lived in Italy had been in our landlord’s family for hundreds of years. We only lived there for five, barely leaving a trace in its 700-year history. Everything around us was, in fact, very old and established, and we were the new outsiders often feeling we didn’t fit or belong. It’s amazing how a postal clerk held the power to make me feel inadequate! As Americans living in Italy, we would always be outsiders to some degree. We were their friends but didn’t have the same credibility because they didn’t know our heritage; it took longer to build trust because we were unknown.

  • Recall a time when your background or pedigree gave you credibility. Have those things ever been a hindrance?

READ THE WORD: EXODUS 6:14-30 (ESV)

14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations.

20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans.

26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.

28 On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Whose genealogies are recounted in this passage (vs. 26)?
  2. What was Moses called to do, and what were his excuses to the Lord (vss. 29-30)? Why do you think he was objecting to God?
  3. Why does verse 26 make a point to connect Moses and Aaron’s heritage with their calling (vss. 26-27)?
  4. What difference might Moses’ lineage have made in his position before the people?
  5. Do you ever feel inadequate to do what God has put before you? How can knowing your spiritual heritage give you confidence?

RESPOND TO GOD

When Moses first went to Pharaoh to ask for the freedom of the Israelites, it didn’t go well and the people angrily blamed him (Exodus 5). In the face of these things, Moses often voiced his feelings of inadequacy to God. He wondered how and why Pharaoh would listen to his poor and faltering speech.  Sandwiched between two such laments to the Lord was the genealogy of Moses and Aaron. God was confirming their heritage as his chosen ones: these are the Moses and Aaron whom I called to be deliverers. Their lineage gave them credibility. As a believer, you have spiritual lineage. “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29). You are a co-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). Let your marvelous spiritual heritage embolden you today to live out God’s calling in your life.

  • Whatever your human lineage may be, thank God that if you are in Christ, you are his heir.
  • Praise God that, in Christ, you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and are a part of his chosen race and his royal priesthood (2 Peter 2:9).