Read Time: 5 Minutes
Shabbat shalom, beloved readers. As we enter the second book of the Torah, Shemot—known in English as Exodus—we embark on a journey that is far more than a historical account. It is a living, breathing revelation of how God calls each of us by name, draws us out of bondage, and leads us into His purposes. The title Shemot means “names,” and in Hebrew thought, a name is inseparable from one’s identity, character, and destiny. Through this portion, we discover that our God is a God who knows us intimately, calls us personally, and leads us purposefully.
The Power of a Name
The portion opens with a powerful declaration:
“Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt…” (Exodus 1:1).
From the very first verse, God emphasizes individuality within community. He knows each of the sons of Jacob—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and all the tribes—by name. This reflects a profound spiritual truth: our God is not a distant deity but a personal Father who calls His children by name. As Isaiah 40:26 reminds us, He “brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name.” And in John 10, Yeshua assures us, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me… I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” To be known by name is to be seen, valued, and chosen. Even when the world overlooks us, God sees. Even when society reduces us to a number, God calls us by name.
The Heroism of the Unnamed
One of the striking features of Shemot is the contrast between those who are named and those who remain unnamed. In Exodus 1, we encounter Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives who defied Pharaoh’s genocidal decree. Their names are recorded for eternity—a testament to their courage and faithfulness. Yet in Exodus 2, key figures remain anonymous: Moses’ mother, his sister, Pharaoh’s daughter. They are called simply “a woman,” “his sister,” “the daughter of Pharaoh.”
Why the difference?
The Torah is teaching us that recognition before God is not dependent on public acclaim. These unnamed women were instrumental in God’s redemption plan—saving Moses, preserving Israel, and shaping history. Their anonymity reminds us that God sees the hidden acts of faithfulness, the quiet obedience, the unseen sacrifices. He knows the name behind the face, the heart behind the hand.
As Yeshua taught:
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).
The Calling of Moses: From Hiddenness to Purpose
Moses’ early life is marked by hiddenness and ambiguity. He is born under a death sentence, placed in a basket, and drawn out of the water by an Egyptian princess. His name, Moshe, means “drawn out,” yet it is he who will draw Israel out of Egypt. His identity is dual—Hebrew by birth, Egyptian by upbringing—a foreshadowing of the One who would be both Son of God and Son of Man.
At the burning bush, God reveals Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God who remembers His covenants. He calls Moses by name twice: “Moses, Moses!” This double calling signifies urgency, intimacy, and purpose. Moses responds with Hineni—“Here I am”—the same response given by Abraham, Samuel, and Isaiah. It is the posture of availability: “I am here, send me.”
Yet Moses hesitates: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11). He feels inadequate, ill-equipped, fearful. God’s reply is not a rebuke but a reassurance: “I will be with you.” He does not call the equipped; He equips the called.
When Moses protests that he lacks eloquence, God asks him, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2). Moses answers, “A staff.” It was a shepherd’s tool, a symbol of his ordinary life. Yet through that staff, God performed miracles—turning it into a serpent, parting the Red Sea, striking the rock for water.
The message is clear: God uses what we already have. He takes our ordinary, everyday resources—our skills, experiences, even our past—and transforms them for His glory. You may feel that you have nothing to offer, but God sees the “staff” in your hand. He can use it to bring deliverance, provision, and revelation.
The Narrow Path: Not Left or Right
In Exodus 2:12, we read that Moses “looked this way and that way” before striking the Egyptian. This glancing aside symbolizes the temptation to deviate from God’s straight path. Throughout Scripture, God warns His people not to turn to the right or to the left (Deuteronomy 5:32, Joshua 1:7, Proverbs 4:27).
Egypt in Hebrew is Mitzrayim—a place of narrowness, constriction, and pressure. It represents the world’s systems that squeeze us into its mold. Yet God uses these narrow places to refine us, much like the burning bush that was aflame but not consumed. He tests us in the fire not to destroy us, but to purify us.
Yeshua is our ultimate deliverer—the One who leads us out of spiritual Egypt. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the straight and narrow path, the King’s Highway, the only way to the Father. Our calling is to keep our eyes fixed on Him, not veering after distractions, deceptions, or counterfeit paths.
The Name Above All Names
Shemot culminates in the revelation of God’s name to Moses: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh—“I AM WHO I AM.” This name denotes God’s eternal, self-existent, covenant-keeping nature. It points forward to Yeshua, who declared, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
In Philippians 2:9–11, we read that God has given Yeshua “the name which is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow.” There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). He is the Name above all names, the One who calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Conclusion: Your True Name in Him
Shemot teaches us that our true identity is found in God. The world may label us, ignore us, or misname us, but God knows who we truly are. He calls us by name, leads us out of bondage, and gives us a new name—a name of purpose, destiny, and belonging.
In Revelation 2:17, Yeshua promises:
“To him who overcomes, I will give a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Overcoming means staying on the path, faithful to the end. It means living for the glory of His name, not our own. It means trusting that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion.
As we journey through Shemot, may we hear His voice calling us by name. May we have the courage to respond, Hineni—here I am. And may we walk the narrow path, led by the Name above all names, until we reach the Promised Land.
From our house to your house,
Shalom.
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