Friday, March 25, 2022
But Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11
Lessons From The Desert
We have been looking at Moses’ life and the call and purpose God had for him. Moses was shocked, as we all would be if we had made bad choices that made us flee for our lives and hide away for 40 years - and then of course the burning bush thing would shock us for sure! He didn't think God would want him for any great purpose. But Moses listened to what God said and gave God all the excuses for why he was not the man for the job.
There are so many great lessons we learn from Moses’ story. Maybe you are in a desert right now, and God has called you out to do something for His glory, but you are sure that someone else besides you would be the best choice. If you are - here are some lessons we can learn from Moses:
God wants us to be available more than He wants us to be able.
But Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11
Moses did not feel qualified so in his mind that disqualified him from having to do this job. He quickly pointed it out to God that he was just a nobody and was not qualified for this calling. But God was prepared for Moses’ excuses. He answered Moses with a rock-solid reply: And He said, 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 God basically told Moses that he didn’t need to be qualified because God would be with him. That is all he needed. That is all any of us ever need.
I don’t know what to say!
Then Moses said to God, 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? God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM; and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. Exodus 3:13-14
Moses wants God to hand him the script. He is uncomfortable with just a promise from God. He wants to know exactly what he is supposed to say who sent him. He wants further clarification. God was probably getting tired of Moses’ arguments and says the same thing with a little more emphasis: God, furthermore, said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. Exodus 3:15
Moses was worried about what people would thing when he said God told me…”. God was not worried about how Moses would look and was sure that the people would remember Who He was and what He had done.
It is our human nature to run the opposite direction of things that scare us. When God calls us for a specific purpose it almost always scares us and we usually do not feel qualified. God wants us exactly how we are so that He can prepare us specifically for His purpose. He does not need us stepping up in shallow confidence that we have gained from the world. He wants us humble and empty so He can fill us with what we need. And the part about Moses being uncomfortable with just God’s promise - that has to ring true with most of us. When we are stepping out in faith, or calling out in the midst of a storm, we also want much more than just His word. This is why we struggle so much. There is nothing more trustworthy than God’s promise. There is nothing more powerful and dependable.
How many times has God heard these same words from you - “Who am I that I could possibly do what you are asking of me God?” He just wants us to be willing and obedient. He provides everything else. The path ahead will not be easy and trusting Him is even harder, but obediently stepping up when He calls releases His promises of blessings in our lives.
I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that
when you go, you will not go empty-handed. Exodus 4:21
