But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 ESV
It seems amazing to us, but God appeared before Moses and gave him a task to complete and Moses stood there and argued with Him! Moses did not humbly accept the task God set before him but instead gave God a list of reasons He had chosen the wrong man for the job.
• Who am I, God, to go to Pharaoh and deliver Your people? (Exodus 3:11)
• Who should I say had sent me, God? (Exodus 3:13)
• Suppose the elders say You haven’t appeared to me (Exodus 4:1).
• O God, I’m not eloquent (Exodus 4:10).
We criticize Moses because he dared to express how unworthy he felt when we do the same thing. But what I love about God is that He patiently responded to every concern Moses brought before Him.
He reminded Moses that he didn’t have to go alone because God would be with him. He told Moses His name and also included a promise: “I will be who I need to be” (Exodus 3:14). In essence, God was reassuring Moses that there would be no situation out of His control.
He gave Moses not one, but two signs to prove he had been visited by God and had a divine purpose. I’m sure the people were amazed when Moses’ staff became a serpent or when he put his hand in his cloak and it became leprous. God gave Moses all he needed to convince the Israelites that he hadn’t come to them in his own strength.
It wasn’t until Moses said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send” (Exodus 4:13 NKJV) that God got angry with Moses.
It was fairly obvious by that time who the Lord had chosen to be His servant. Yet, even in His anger, God made a way by providing Aaron to assist Moses with his assignment.
When God calls us to do something, do you tell Him all the reasons you can’t? I know I do. I don’t feel capable of accomplishing any of the assignments God has given me on my own. But thank God I don’t have to do anything in my own strength. And, just like with Moses, God has an answer for every concern I could bring before Him.
If you are like me and Moses who struggle to carry out what God has called you to do, I’d like to remind you that God doesn’t need us to do anything for Him. He uses these tasks to strengthen our faith and deepen our reliance on and trust in Him. He asks us to help Him because He loves us and wants to save us for all eternity.
God’s love for us is patient and longsuffering. He doesn’t destroy us when we waffle in doing the things He has told us to do. Instead, He faithfully comforts our fears and reassures us when we doubt.
My friend, what has God asked you to do that you’re still not doing? Ask for His forgiveness and express the fears of your heart. God loves you and is patiently waiting for you to turn to Him.
Prayer
Father, forgive me where I have been unfaithful to do what You have asked. I pray that You will remind me I don’t have to carry out these tasks on my own. I ask that You strengthen me and help me to be faithful to do Your will, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Other actions you can take: