Moses is a character with a complicated identity. He's an Israelite, but he's raised in the house of

Pharaoh. He's born in Egypt, but he flees to live in the wilderness with the Midianites. Even starts a

family there. Moses has moved on, but out in the wilderness, God meets Moses on a mountain and a tree of fire,

and he calls Moses to go back to Egypt and rescue his people Israel from slavery. It's as if from this

moment forward he's going to be asked to trust that who I am is a part of this family that I was

born into but have no relational connection to

anymore. And I'm just supposed to go back and dive in as if I'm this people's leader.

Through Moses, God leads Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness all the way to Mount Sinai.

This is the same mountain Moses met God at when he called him to rescue Israel.

Moses goes up the mountain to be with God while Israel stays at the base.

They lose patience and they create a false God to worship.

And so God tells Moses, he's done.

This is a moment to disassociate himself from these people.

What Moses does is he identifies himself with the people.

He says, listen, you can't ditch these people.

You made a promise to my ancestors, and you can't break your promise.

This people has sinned a great sin, and now, if you would, forgive their sin. And if not, please

wipe me off of the scroll that you have written. Moses is a human who can ascend the

cosmic mountain. And up there, he becomes the faithful intercessor, beseeching God to make atonement for his people, even if it costs him his life.

And in response, God brings his presence in life down off the mountain.

The last paragraph of Exodus is about how the cloud that covered the mountain moves down off the mountain and it covers the tent of meeting

and the glory of the Lord fills the tent. That's what this whole thing is for, is to partner

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