Monday, October 13, 2008

Words of Encouragement

The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"  - Exodus 3:7-11

You Want me? Moses: I Cannot Speak. Moses was faced with an awesome encounter, he met God.  He didn't just hear about God, but God was present before him speaking to him.  What God spoke to Moses was I have heard the cry of my people and I am choosing you to go be the one that stands before Pharaoh to have my people released.

While God was speaking, I could see Moses joy at knowing that God was going to release the people from their misery until he heard his part in the plan.  Instantly when the Lord stopped speaking, Moses was ready with an answer.  Not an answer of yes, but of one that said wait a minute, do you know who I am?  Surely you couldn't be talking to me?  I am not one able to go and speak to Pharaoh.

With the objection that Moses gave, God answers him in the next verse and says, but I will be with you.  Moses then begins to come up with one excuses after another as to the reason why he could not be the one chosen to carry out this task.  Moses finds excuses all the way to the next chapter, verse 10 where he says, look God, I have never been great at speeches. I am slow of tongue, so surely you can pick someone better than me.  Finally Moses, just simply said, Lord, please send someone else. Moses objected so long until God became angry with him.

We cannot look at Moses and say, he was speaking to God so surely he should have been able to accept the assignment.  Well the question is, are we any different?  Don't we too doubt our abilities to do what God ask of us.  Especially when we see that we will have to stand up against strong authorities and powers.  Surely, I cannot speak to the powerful, the mighty and expect them to listen?  Yet if God sends you to do a task, he will surely equip you to do it.

What Moses did not think about was this, he had lived in Pharaoh's house, he had learned the ways and customs of Pharaoh.  Moses had been trained for this position and he did not even realize it.  God allows us sometimes to be in places both good and bad that are a learning ground for us.  God allows those places to be what trains us for the next journey, the next assignment that God has for us.

So we like Moses may become doubtful that we have the skills, the talents or the ability to speak for God, but if God calls us he will place in our hands that which we need to show he is with us.  Like Moses staff, he will place in our hands access to his power and wonders.

I pray for us today.  Lord you already know what power you have given to us, so allow us the ability to us that power to do your will.  Help us not to become fearful in stepping out in the call you have on  our lives.  Help us today to have that encounter with your presence that will assure us of what you require from us.