February 7, 2012

SCRIPTURE
Exodus 4:10-13 -  Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”


OBSERVATION
Moses was in front of the burning bush, listening to God speak to him.  An Angel of the Lord had called Moses over and he was surely feeling pretty weird about it all, as he heard God speak through a bush that was on fire yet not consumed, and considering what he was being asked.  God was asking Moses to go to Pharoah, King of Egypt, and speak to him about letting the Israelites go.  Now, Moses had been in trouble prior to this, having killed an Egyptian and fleeing to Midian to escape punishment.  I'm sure he was thinking "NO WAY am I going back to where I was wanted as a murderer..." on top of all his other fears and misgivings.  I try to put myself in Moses' sandals during this scene.  He seems, of all the people in the Bible, one of the most approachable and fallible; and is so easy to relate to.  That's why this passage speaks to me - when God says, "Who gave human beings their mouths?" - saying, 'I created you and everything else and I will give you the words to say and the strength to say them', Moses still replies, essentially, "Um, thanks, but no thanks."


APPLICATION
How many times have I said to God, "Please send someone else."?  How many times have I felt the Holy Spirit's prompting to speak to someone, or to raise my hand to volunteer, or felt that internal push telling me to do something outside my comfort zone, and yet I did nothing?  God has said over and over in Scripture that HE will provide the words, the wisdom, the softening of heart, the strengthening of spirit, for us as we go out and serve Him, and yet it is SO easy to forget that and think we have to rely on ourselves - who we know to be weak.  God came through for Moses, and Paul, and everyone else who trusted Him, so we need to trust Him too.


PRAYER
Father, help me in my insecurity and my weakness to know that you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that you are the God who gave Moses the words to change the history of the world.  That you are the God who gave words to Paul as he spread your message throughout the ancient world.  That you are the God who has sustained His church thousands of years - You will not fail me in my hour of need, when I am serving You.  Help me to recognize those moments when You are urging me to act and speak in Your behalf, give me courage and strength to share You with all.  When you ask me, Lord, don't let me say "Please, send someone else" - let me say, "where & when".  In Jesus' name - Amen.


More information on Exodus:  http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/exodus/