Moses: A Tale of Inadequacy
(Exodus Chapters 3 to 15)
If God asked you to do something that you felt was beyond your ability and outside of your comfort zone, what would you do? Would you obey willingly or would you tell the God of the Universe to find someone else?
Throughout the Bible, God chose the ‘least likely’ person to accomplish His purposes.
The book of Exodus describes how God heard the cries of Israel as they suffered as Egyptian slaves. He decided to use Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go. But Moses was a very resistant and reluctant volunteer.
He was not on board with God’s plan. Several times Moses questioned or reminded God that he was not the man for the job.
Moses: Who am I to speak to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? (What’s my identity?) (Exodus 3:11)
God: Certainly, I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain. (Exodus 3:12)
Moses: Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them? (What’s Your identity?) (Exodus 3:13)
God: I AM WHO I AM. Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14)
God describes Himself as Elohim – the Strong Creator God. Elohim is God’s name mentioned in Genesis 1:1-2 and a total of thirty-two times in the book of Genesis.
Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say.” But he said, “Please Lord, now send the message by whomever you will.” Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover; when he sees you he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.” (Exodus 4:10-16)
God had already worked out the plan and prepared the way for Moses. He was gracious enough to provide the human support Moses needed to complete his assignment — his brother, Aaron.
But Moses doesn’t stop with his questions, complaints or whining. He went back and forth with God several times. It appeared that Moses feared Pharaoh more than God. The fear of man brings a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord will be protected. (Proverbs 29:25)
But God persisted and the story ends in triumph. Moses had a front row seat to see God’s miracles as He:
Turned a staff into a serpent
Changed the Nile into blood
Challenged Egypt’s false gods and sent plagues of frogs, gnats, swarms of insects, boils, hail, locusts, three days of darkness, and pestilence on Egypt’s livestock
Killed the firstborn of Egypt, which convinced Pharaoh to let the people go.
When God parted the Red Sea, He used Moses as His instrument. “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.” (Exodus 14:16)
Here’s the best part: “When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:31) Moses and Israel sang a song of victory to the Lord in Exodus 15: 1- 21.
Just like Moses, you may ask, ‘Lord, who am I to…?’
Lead that group?
Write that book?
Start that business?
Take that job?
Work with those people?
Speak to that organization?
Challenge that social media post?
Write that blog?
Run for that office?
Talk about You at work or school?
Speak truth to those who oppose You?
Don’t worry about your limitations. Lean on God. Depend on His identity, His power and His wisdom. Here’s Kingdom Math: You + God = a Majority.
God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Unlike the world, God doesn’t select the best and brightest. Only the Strong Creator God would use a stuttering 80 year old and his 83-year-old brother to speak to the most powerful ruler of the ancient world.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
When you feel God’s gentle nudge to do something new, rest assured that He has assessed the situation and He has assessed you. Your limitations don’t matter, because the Creator God will go ahead of you and will be with you, just like He did with Moses and Israel. If you feel the Lord moving you beyond your comfort zone, say yes. It may be uncomfortable, but you will see God at work and will sing a song of victory to Him in the end. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
A prayer to Elohim, the Strong Creator God:
Oh Lord, You have created and formed me and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. You knew me while I was in my Mother’s womb. We both know my flaws and failures. I am not able to handle _____________________ on my own. If you are moving me to tackle this project, please let Your presence go ahead of me and equip me to do Your will. I can’t go forward without Your hand guiding me. Please let me know that You are with me in this process and show me what to do with each step. May this bring glory to Your name and lead people to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Amen.
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