The story in Exodus 3, Moses had been in the wilderness for 40 years, tending sheep after fleeing Egypt.
He probably thought his days of making a difference were long gone. Then God appeared to him in the burning bush, calling him to deliver Israel from bondage. This encounter leads to three key questions Moses asked—questions we should also ask as we prepare to serve the Lord.
1. Who Am I?
When God called Moses, his first response was, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” (Ex. 3:11). Moses recognized his own weakness, and that’s the humble attitude we should have too. God doesn’t call us because of our talents or worthiness but because He can work through us.
When we get saved, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are no longer defined by our past sins or failures. We are new people in Christ, and like Moses, we must ask, “Who am I now?”
In verse 12, God answers Moses, “Ye shall serve God.” Our identity is found in being servants of the King. Think about a king’s servant—his entire purpose is to obey and represent the king’s will. As Christians, our identity is tied to serving our Savior.
2. What Is Your Name?
Moses’ second question was, “What is His name?” (Ex. 3:13). If we are to represent God, we must know Him personally. Pharaoh later asked, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice?” (Ex. 5:2). He didn’t know God and refused to serve Him. This world is the same way—it will not serve someone it doesn’t know.
God answered Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:14). This name speaks of God’s eternal, unchanging nature. He is not limited by time. He is the God who was, is, and always will be. Jesus used this same title in John 8:58 when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Revelation 1:8 describes Him as “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending… which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
God is everything we need at every moment. He is present in our trials, faithful in our calling, and powerful in our weakness. To serve Him, we must first know Him deeply. When we know who He is, we can share Him with confidence.
3. What Shall I Say?
Moses’ third question was about direction: “What shall I say unto them?” (Ex. 3:13). God responded with clear instructions: “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations” (Ex. 3:15). He wanted Moses to proclaim His name and deliver His message.
In verse 17, God gave Moses the specific message: “I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt… unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” This message of leaving bondage for a promised land mirrors the gospel we carry today.
As Christians, our message is simple: this world is not our home. We are leaving the bondage of sin for the promise of heaven. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). We are called to share the gospel—the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again to give us eternal life.
Before Moses could lead Israel, he needed to ask these three questions: Who am I? What is Your name? What shall I say? These questions reveal humility, dependence on God, and a desire for direction—qualities every servant of God should have.
When we realize that we are servants of the King, when we truly know the great “I AM,” and when we boldly share His message, we are equipped to fulfill His calling in our lives. Let’s follow Moses’ example and approach our calling with the same heart of surrender and trust.
