Take a look back at the scene at the burning bush (Exodus 3-4). God is sending Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. And Moses, remembered as a man who spoke to God as to a friend, immediately said, "Yes, Lord," right?
Not exactly. As you read the passage, you can just hear this timid man say, "But, but..." He says, "Wait a minute, I don't even know Your name, how are they going to believe me if I don't even know Your name?"
After answering his question, the Lord says, "They will pay heed to what you say..." (3:18). But Moses still isn't sure. He says, "what if they will not believe me or listen to what I say?" (4:1). God continues to bear with him in grace and gives Moses the power to do three signs that will prove he has heard from the Lord.
As we read Exodus 4:10, we hear Moses say, "No God, You just don't understand." He says, "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." I hear an echo of a prayer I also have prayed in this verse: "God, I'm not perfect yet, neither recently nor in time past, nor even right now as You speak to me, I have lots and lots of flaws and You couldn't possibly want me to do this thing You seem to be calling me to."
The Lord gives Moses another chance. "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" (4:11-12). I don't know about you, but I think when the Lord says to you, "Now then go," it's time to stop arguing and get going.
But we know that's not what Moses does. You know how this part goes. Moses says, "No, speak through someone else." God gets angry. God uses Aaron, Moses' brother to speak. But that is not God's full thought. Why did He want to use Moses? Why did He want to speak through a man who is "slow of speech and slow of tongue"?
I believe we can find this answer in 2 Corinthians 12:9: "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' " God delights in making His power known through weak vessels.
Let's look at God's answer to Moses again, "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?" Who has made you? God says, "Is it not I? Do you think I messed up?"
I am reminded of the passage when Jesus' disciples ask Him why a man was born blind, if it was because of his sins or his parents' sins. "Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him' " (John 9:3). I believe God made Moses slow of speech so that the works of God might be displayed in him. What weaknesses do you and I have that are for the express purpose of bringing God more glory?
There is a clear challenge here for us. Let us believe the Lord when He speaks. Let's not spend the better part of two chapters arguing with God. When God calls us to something, let us not act as if we know better than God, saying, "No, I am not fit for this or that. Call someone else." We label this humility, but it is not, it is straight from hell. It is the voice of the enemy that says, "Does God really want you to do that? No, He can't possibly, you're not good enough." Since when does God call us to be good enough? Never. He is the only One who is good. And if you have been born again, He lives in you. He will display His glory through your unique weaknesses. So, if God is saying to you, "Now then go," GO!
Not exactly. As you read the passage, you can just hear this timid man say, "But, but..." He says, "Wait a minute, I don't even know Your name, how are they going to believe me if I don't even know Your name?"
After answering his question, the Lord says, "They will pay heed to what you say..." (3:18). But Moses still isn't sure. He says, "what if they will not believe me or listen to what I say?" (4:1). God continues to bear with him in grace and gives Moses the power to do three signs that will prove he has heard from the Lord.
As we read Exodus 4:10, we hear Moses say, "No God, You just don't understand." He says, "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." I hear an echo of a prayer I also have prayed in this verse: "God, I'm not perfect yet, neither recently nor in time past, nor even right now as You speak to me, I have lots and lots of flaws and You couldn't possibly want me to do this thing You seem to be calling me to."
The Lord gives Moses another chance. "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" (4:11-12). I don't know about you, but I think when the Lord says to you, "Now then go," it's time to stop arguing and get going.
But we know that's not what Moses does. You know how this part goes. Moses says, "No, speak through someone else." God gets angry. God uses Aaron, Moses' brother to speak. But that is not God's full thought. Why did He want to use Moses? Why did He want to speak through a man who is "slow of speech and slow of tongue"?
I believe we can find this answer in 2 Corinthians 12:9: "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' " God delights in making His power known through weak vessels.
Let's look at God's answer to Moses again, "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?" Who has made you? God says, "Is it not I? Do you think I messed up?"
I am reminded of the passage when Jesus' disciples ask Him why a man was born blind, if it was because of his sins or his parents' sins. "Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him' " (John 9:3). I believe God made Moses slow of speech so that the works of God might be displayed in him. What weaknesses do you and I have that are for the express purpose of bringing God more glory?
There is a clear challenge here for us. Let us believe the Lord when He speaks. Let's not spend the better part of two chapters arguing with God. When God calls us to something, let us not act as if we know better than God, saying, "No, I am not fit for this or that. Call someone else." We label this humility, but it is not, it is straight from hell. It is the voice of the enemy that says, "Does God really want you to do that? No, He can't possibly, you're not good enough." Since when does God call us to be good enough? Never. He is the only One who is good. And if you have been born again, He lives in you. He will display His glory through your unique weaknesses. So, if God is saying to you, "Now then go," GO!
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