Our Heavenly Father hears and responds
Reading: Exodus 2:23 – 3:15 Preacher: Kevin Kim
At Father’s Day service, we will be looking at Exodus 2 and 3, where God hears the cries of his people and shows up at just the right time. Our Heavenly Father always hears us too. His help might not come straight away, but it always comes at the perfect time — because he knows exactly what we need and when we need it.
Sermon Text
The book of Exodus picks up where Genesis leaves off. Jacob — also called Israel — had brought his family into Egypt. Over time that small family grew into a great community. But the blessing of growth soon turned into a burden. The rulers of Egypt felt threatened, so they enslaved the Israelites and treated them harshly.
By Exodus 2:23 the situation is desperate: “The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out. Their cry for help rose up to God.”
And here’s the good news: God hears. Verse 24 says, “God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Verse 25 adds, “God looked upon the Israelites and took notice of them.”
That’s who God is. God is not distant. God is not deaf to our cries. God is the Father who hears his children when they groan. He remembers. He notices. He takes our pain into his own heart.
And that really matters on Father’s Day. Because for some of us, this day is full of gratitude. We give thanks for fathers who listened, for grandfathers who cared, for mentors or friends who stepped in when we needed them. But for others, this day carries pain — because maybe your dad wasn’t there, or maybe he didn’t listen. That’s why Exodus 2 is such good news: whatever our earthly experience has been, we all have a Father who hears, who remembers, who notices. God listens.
God Responds — But Slowly
Now notice what happens next. God hears the cries of his people, but there’s no instant rescue. No snap of the fingers.
Instead, chapter 3 begins with Moses in the wilderness, standing before a burning bush, and a long conversation unfolds. And what’s striking is this: God chooses not to act alone. He says in verse 8, “I have come down to deliver them.” Then in verse 10, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out.”
Which is it? Both. God is the one who saves, but he chooses to work through Moses. God delivers, but he does so through human partnership.
That’s how God still works. He doesn’t bypass people; he calls them. And usually they are ordinary people. People like Moses — hesitant, reluctant, unsure.
Moses’ Objections — and God’s Patience
And here the story feels very human. Moses doesn’t say, “Yes Lord, here I am.” He hesitates. He protests. He objects.
His first objection: “Who am I, that I should go?” God replies: “I will be with you.”
Then Moses asks: “If they ask your name, what should I say?” God answers: “I AM WHO I AM … I AM has sent me to you.”
What’s amazing is not only what God says, but how God handles Moses. God doesn’t silence him. God doesn’t say, “Stop arguing.” God listens to every objection. He responds to every concern. Sometimes he reassures. Sometimes he gives a sign. And finally, when Moses begs not to go alone, God sends Aaron with him.
That’s what good fathering looks like. Children don’t always listen and obey. They question. They resist. They make excuses. But good fathers — and good mentors — don’t brush that off. They listen. They reassure. They stay present.
Presence Matters More Than Perfection
I love God’s first response: “I will be with you.” That is the heart of it. It’s not about Moses’ ability. It’s about God’s presence.
And that is what fathering is about too. Presence matters more than perfection.
You don’t have to be flawless. You don’t have to have every answer. You don’t always have to know the way forward. What matters most is being there — showing up, listening, walking alongside.
Moses felt unqualified. He had a speech problem. He didn’t feel competent. God doesn’t deny any of that. God simply says: “I’ll use you anyway.”
That’s the hope for every parent, grandparent, mentor, and guide. God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect. He asks us to be present. And he promises his own presence with us.
God’s Name — God’s Character
When Moses asks for God’s name, it’s not just curiosity. In that culture, a name carried identity and character. Moses is really asking: “Can you be trusted? Are you dependable?”
And God’s answer: “I AM WHO I AM.” Or, “I will be who I will be.”
In other words: I will be faithful to my character. I will show up. I will make things happen. I will not abandon my people.
That’s still God’s promise to us today. Whatever we face, we can trust God to be who God says he is: present, faithful, dependable.
Father’s Day Lessons from Exodus 2–3
So what does this story teach us for Father’s Day?
God listens — he hears the cries of his people, and those who lead are called to listen too. God responds with presence — not promising ease, but saying, “I will be with you.” God welcomes questions — Moses argued, and God allowed it. And God is faithful — his very name is a promise. He is the God who was, who is, and who will be. That’s the faithfulness we are invited to reflect.
Conclusion
The story of Exodus 2–3 doesn’t begin with a perfect hero. It begins with a suffering people who cry out — and a God who listens. It continues with a hesitant, reluctant man — and a God who patiently responds: “I will be with you.”
On this Father’s Day, let’s give thanks for those who have listened to us and walked alongside us — fathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, friends. Let’s give thanks for those who showed up, who stayed present, who reflected something of God’s faithfulness.
And let’s be honest — none of us are perfect at this. We get it wrong. We miss the cries sometimes. But the hope is this: God is the Father who never misses a cry, who never forgets a promise, who never leaves us alone.
So today, as we give thanks for those who played fathering roles in our lives, let’s also remember to place our trust in the Father who always listens, always responds, and always says: “I will be with you.”
Amen.