SCRIPTURE: Exodus 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” [Exodus 4:11-12] Whatever God asks of us, He gives us what we need to do it. We are equipped in God with everything we need for life and godliness. In the great I AM, we are abundantly supplied!
I have a mouth (as many people can attest), a mind, a body, an education, a home, a bank account, a job, a family, etc. All that I have, all that I am, all of it is a gift from God. But the gift is nothing without the Giver. And the gift is useless apart from the Giver’s purpose. I need to live my life WITH God, and I need to live my life FOR God. Any other way of living is hopeless, pointless.
Moses has to learn the hard way that His confidence is in God. Interesting that on his way back to Egypt, God challenges him on his refusal to circumcise his son (a declaration of independence from his God?). The idea behind this odd section (vv.24-26) seems to related to Moses’ lack of confidence in God.
God is the One Who will accomplish His purpose and establish His kingdom. He does not need us, but He does choose to use us. We are invited to join Him in His mission to restore His creation. We must be willing, available partners. And when we surrender ourselves to God and His mission, watch out and see what He can do. Moses is a good example of this. For someone who is not good at speaking, does he ever stop talking? Do we actually hear much from Aaron? God humours Moses by offering Aaron’s help, but once he gets going, Moses-with-God is a force to be reckoned, a voice to heard!
God remains the great I AM. Jesus reveals more fully what this means. As we surrender ourselves to Him and to His mission, watch out and see what He can do. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. There is nothing lacking in Him. All that He is, is everything that we need!
The only question is, will we step forward like Isaiah and say, ‘Here I am, send me” [Isaiah 6:8], or will we step back like Moses and say, ‘Lord, please! Send anyone else.” (Exodus 4:13].
PRAYER:
Lord, here I am. Send me!