send someone else

we've all been there. in that seemingly precarious spot, wedged deep between a rock and a hard place. wondering how we got ourselves into the mess, how we'd ever manage to get out, and why, why!, did God allow us to wind up in this place; perhaps again, or perhaps where someone else would be more apt to handle it.

or maybe its that place where we feel jesus tugging at our hearts with the gentle whisper of conviction, and we brush it off as a seasonal chill. God certainly can't be talking to me. i am not (insert character trait here) enough. He would certainly use someone stronger in their faith to lead. more humble. more sacrificing. more kind-hearted and compassionate than i. smarter than i. with more time than i.

even Moses found himself here. after God reveals Himself to Moses through that whole burning bush incident (via Exodus 3), and tells him He is going to use Him to free the enslaved children of Israel out of Egypt, Moses tries to mosey (pun intended) his way out of the situation.

err... Who am I that I should go...? he said to GOD. (i scoff, because HOW often do we say this, to GOD?! He knows best. always. and we argue it until our stubborness becomes too stubborn, until we either finally concede, or we miss out on what the Lord has planned for us; plans to use us! how foolish are we?!)

in the latter part of exodus 3, and the first half of chapter 4, i witness both the gentleness and patience of the Lord. you see, Moses was like us; human. like you and me, he had all these questions. he wanted to know details, specifics, how this would work. what's God's name? how would Israel believe he encountered God? what if they didn't believe him? still didn't believe him?

God in His divine patience (remember, He's God; He does not have to answer all of our questions!) walked through the play-by-play with Moses. with each of Moses' questions, He spoke in absolutes. i counted 13 times within these 23 verses where God said explicitly "I will," or "he/they will." now, i'm no mathematician, nor am I a theologian; however, that is an awful lot of promises from a pretty important person. but, aha! God is actually faithful to do what He says.

to comfort Moses and explain His plans for him, God told Moses that:

• I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt. (3:17)
• They will heed your voice. (v. 18)
• The King of Egypt will not let you go. (v. 19)
• So, I will stretch out my hand and ...
• ... (I will) strike Egypt with all my wonders,
• which I will do in its midst, and after that,
• he will let you go. (v. 20)
• And I will give this people favor. (v. 21)
• Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign... (4:8)
• Now, therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say. (v. 12)
• When he sees you he will be glad in his heart. (v. 14)
• And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth,
• and I will teach you what you should do. (v. 15)

all of that to say ... the Lord is FAITHFUL and TRUE! and Moses, even Moses!, needed reminding of that! we are all in desperate need of that reminder, daily, moment-by-moment even! how often are we to question what God speaks to our hearts!? how often do we doubt ourselves, our worth in Him even?! friends, hear this: God loves you! He loves you! and He is faithful to whatever promise He is speaking to you in this very second!

back to us for a second: because, after all, we're going to forget it soon enough anyway. Moses is still trying to lather up with oil to slide on out of what God has just asked Him to do. just like us, he goes on and on about why he is not cut out for the job:

"O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." (4:10)

and what does God respond with? You're right, Moses. You've persuaded me. I'm gunna use Jim instead.

ummmm-- nope.

God's response is "who has made man's mouth? (i did). or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? (yup; me too.) Have not I, the Lord?" and he charges him again: "Now, therefore, go, and I will be your mouth and teach you what you shall say.

then we see Moses again, begging to see his name removed from the hat. "o my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else you may send."

been there? guilty.

can we persuade God? no.

but we can miss out on what He has for us.

and we can anger Him with our disobedience.

"so the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses..." (v. 14).

ooooooh boy. i would NOT like to have that kindling beneath me. think of what a man for the Lord Moses was. and think of what he could've been had he not angered the Lord and did what God was asking him to do. i wonder what a great man like Moses missed out on. thankfully, the mercy and grace of the Lord is redemptive, and God still used Moses in mighty ways to press His kingdom forward.

what is the Lord calling you to that you are trying to ignore? trying to explain yourself out of it with all the reasons why you can't or shouldn't? what steps should you take to find your obedience rooted in the Lord at His call?

God can still use you. it is not too late. hear His voice. heed His call. run after Him. trust Him to be the fulfiller of all his 'I will'-s.