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We are one week beyond the launch of our new 9:15 AM Family Service. In support of this effort we are exploring how God is at work in New Beginnings.

In today’s reading from the book of Exodus, the Lord calls Moses to go to Egypt, “To set his people free.” Moses resists the call.

One issue in play here is that for Moses the call represents not so much a going to Egypt as a returning to Egypt. Moses was raised in the house Pharaoh. He knows the players. The house of Pharaoh has a place Moses fl ed. It is not a place to which he wants to return.

Moses gives the Lord an excuse.

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”

This expression of doubt is not unlike the doubt expressed by Abram in last week’s Old Testament lesson. Remember Abram had embarked on a New Beginning, leaving his country, his kindred and his fathers house to go the land of promise. But once there his anxiety erupted.

“I continue childless,” Abram said. “A slave in my house will become my heir.”

Last week the Lord did not deny that Abram’s willingness to embrace God’s call to become a blessing to the nations would not be without challenges.

The Lord did not say, “Don’t worry Abram, you have nothing to worry about.”

The Lord said, “I will be your shield and your very great reward.”

New Beginnings are full of challenges. The divine promise in the midst of these challenges is not that the Lord will make things easy. The divine promise is that the Lord will be with us – to be our shield to make us strong in the midst of the challenges.

This same word the Lord gives to Moses in response to his fears.

Moses says, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”

The Lord says, “But I will be with you.”

This is the most powerful word the Lord can say. To have the Lord’s presence, for the Lord to be with us in the midst of life’s challenges, is the only thing we need to overcome, prevail, flourish and be fruitful.

Every Sunday we greet one another in our liturgy with this same empowering word. The priest stands before the people and says: “The Lord be with you.” The people respond: “And also with you.”

Our witness to the Lord’s saving presence in the world is meaningless if not for the Lord’s promise to be with us.

There is not witness without with-ness. May you always remember that the Lord is with you indeed, this day and for evermore.