But an even greater blessing was promised. Israel was called out of Egypt to meet with God and to worship Him on the very mountain where Moses stood. God called Israel His people, His firstborn son.
"Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”(Gen 4:22-23)
God would once again establish His covenant with Israel at Sinai as He had promised to the fathers. Moses did well to ask of God's name, since the promises of God were so great that God Himself had to come to keep His word. Jacob long ago asked for the name of the Angel of the Lord as the wrestling match ended. Moses wanted to know the Lord who called him. He would seek the privilege of addressing God by name.
The deliverance of Israel is God's work. Nevertheless, God chose to save them through Moses, His servant. The patriarchs were God's servants; they carried special roles as household heads and elders of the people. But God called Moses to be His servant in a new way. He held authority as a prophet, to bring God's word to the people; he was the ruler and judge of Israel; he led them through the wilderness, interceded with God for them when they sinned and instructed them in the way. The figure of Moses was made the model for the prophets who were to follow.
More than that, such a pattern pointed to the work of the Messiah, Deut 18:18 "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. "
But before we think we can accept such a call with ease, imagine that Moses could also hear the challenge from his own people forty years ago, "Who made you ruler and judge over us?" (Ex 2:14). And Moses realized his own limitations (3:11).
Moses knew the might of Pharaoh and the weakness of Israel; yet he did not know the power of the Lord. Yet he believed God and went to Egypt. When he stood again at Mount Sinai, it was with thousands upon thousands of the people of Israel.
References:
Edmund Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery
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