Good Morning! Today’s post is a little different…A lot of questions for YOU to dig into. I’d really encourage you to give this some time and share your insights in the comments!
When my husband John and I travel our strategy is to always pack everything in a carry-on. No matter how long we’re going to be gone. We had experiences with lost luggage early in our travels that prompted this.
For John, 10 days in Africa washing out one set of clothing was enough motivation for a lifetime. When you “go” you want at least the illusion of being in control and prepared for anything.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were lacking what you needed? Not just a toothbrush, but courage, or wisdom, or resources…?
Moses didn’t live with the illusion that he was adequate at all.
Exodus 3:9-14 “The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I’ve seen for myself how cruelly they’re being treated by the Egyptians. It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
“I’ll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”
Then Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What do I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’”…
4:1-5 Moses objected, “They won’t trust me. They won’t listen to a word I say. They’re going to say, ‘God? Appear to him? Hardly!’”
So God said, “What’s that in your hand?”
“A staff.”
“Throw it on the ground.” He threw it. It became a snake; Moses jumped back—fast!
God said to Moses, “Reach out and grab it by the tail.” He reached out and grabbed it—and he was holding his staff again. “That’s so they will trust that God appeared to you, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”…
10-11 Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
Moses’ story is a big one (Skim the first 20 chapters of Exodus).
He lacks the right words.
He lacks the power to escape Pharaoh’s grip.
He lacks food and water for the thousands of Israelites he’s leading.
He lacks a GPS.
He lacks wisdom to manage leadership challenges.
He lacks companionship.
He lacks, but God provides.
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9
As I read this, here are a few of the things I notice about Moses’ “road trip” out of Egypt and to the Promised Land:
- Who God calls, He equips.
- God doesn’t ask if we’re capable, but if we’re willing. Provision awaits obedience.
- God takes our “not enough” and makes it “more than enough.”
- Great circumstances on a road trip don’t necessarily mean we’re in God’s will. Difficult circumstances don’t necessarily mean we’re not.
- It’s in times of heaviest demand that we discover God’s deepest supply. Sometimes we need to be put in situations that demand more than we can bear so we can experience that God’s supply is more than enough.
I can observe all that stuff in Moses’ story, but I really need to work to apply it in my life. I like the idea of being over-prepared and not forced to depend on Someone other than myself! Like Herbie the dentist elf and Rudolph, I want to be IN-DE-PEN-DANT. But God has other plans.
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Questions for us today:
Read Exodus 3 and 4:1-17
- Describe the setting in 3:1-3
- In 3:4, God calls Moses by name. What does this tell Moses about God?
- What range of emotion might Moses have had in this encounter with God?
- In what situations do you feel inadequate to do what God commands or desires?
- What are all the “God said’s” in 3:9-14? What do they say about God’s character? How do they encourage you?
- In verse 10 Moses claims he lacks the gifts to serve God effectively. How does his view of himself differ from God’s perspective?
- If God were to identify Himself as “I AM ________” how would He fill in the blank for you?
- What are some ways God has provided you with what you need to face today’s challenges?
My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
Thanks so much for these words today. I am just now finishing a trip to Bolivia to counsel a family in crisis. Whenever I am asked to do these types of things I am often panicky because it is so overwhelming. I always ask myself what do I have to offer? Or I say I don’t know enough about this situation, I won’t be able to help. It sounds like Moses as I read this blog.
I also really appreciated your point that “Great circumstances on a road trip don’t necessarily mean we’re in God’s will. Difficult circumstances don’t necessarily mean we’re not.” This is so true. This trip has not been easy but I did know that God was present and I was able to rest once I got here in the midst of the challenges.