Verse: Exodus 3:10-11
“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Devotional Thoughts:
Notice in this verse what Moses’ first question is. He had just been confronted with the living God in a burning bush and this God had given him a command. Instead of immediate obedience, instead of excitement, instead of questions that illustrate his enthusiasm for his God-given mission, Moses asks a question of dread – Who am I?
He asks – who am I? But what he is really interested in is – who am I not? I’m not a good talker. I’m not quick-witted. I’m not persuasive; they’ll never listen to me. And finally, I’m not the man for the job – God, send someone else.
And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’re prone to make similar excuses. Much of God’s will for our lives is already planned out for us in His Word. Make disciples. Serve others. Honor and care for your parents. Sacrifice for your spouse. Train your children in the way they should go. Stand up for the oppressed and the needy. Bear one another’s burdens.
As followers of Christ, these are our responsibilities. To not do these things would to be disobedient. But let’s be real – who here among us is ever really, truly, completely prepared for these things? Who here is ever really completely prepared to commit to a life-long marriage to someone? Who here is ever really completely prepared to take on the daunting task of becoming a father or mother to a newborn child? Who here is ever really completely prepared to sit down with an unbeliever, talk to them about Jesus, and answer the questions and concerns that are keeping them from the faith?
If we’re content to just live our lives according to our perceived abilities and competencies, we will never get any further than however far our perceived skillset will take us. And, in Moses’ eyes, his skillset wasn’t conducive to leading a colossal evacuation against the will of the most powerful man in the world.
But the great thing about God’s response to Moses (and His promise to us) is that it didn’t include a snap of the fingers to take Moses’ difficulties with speech away. He didn’t promise him George Washington’s leadership abilities or Winston Churchill’s powers of persuasion.
Instead He says in v.12, “I will certainly be with you.”
He was. And He still is.
Points to Ponder:
Read Matthew 28:19-20
What does Jesus promise us in this verse?
Where in your life have you let excuses talk you out of faithfulness?
Maybe a better question – What, and who, came across your mind while reading this article? Perhaps that would be a good place to start.
Blessings,
Zac
