Today’s Reading: Exodus 3 – 4; Psalm 144

O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them,
mere mortals that you should think about them?
For they are like a breath of air;
their days are like a passing shadow.
Open the heavens, Lord, and come down. – Psalm 144:3-5a

While tending Jethro’s flocks one day on Mount Sinai, the mountain of God, Moses came across a blazing fire in the middle of a bush. The bush was engulfed in flames but was not consumed by the fire. As Moses stepped forward to get a closer look, he heard from God.

“I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” – Exodus 3:7-10

I HAVE SEEN. I HAVE HEARD. I AM AWARE. SO I HAVE COME. NOW GO.

God knows how His people suffer and He hears their cries, responding with His incredible mercy. He rescues the oppressed and leads them to the freedom He has planned for them. And the Lord uses us to do this; he calls us to be a part of His plan of redemption. In Exodus 3, we learn that Moses had the privilege to be a part of God’s plan – to have a front row seat to the mighty hand of God at work. But just like we have a tendency to do, Moses responded in fear and doubt rather than giving God his immediate “yes”. Can you relate?

God said “Go” and Moses responded “Who am I?” God made it clear – It isn’t about who you are but about who I am and “I Am Who I Am” (3:14). Moses protested – What should I say? God responded – “Say this…” Moses reacted in fear and doubt, asking “What if…?” God pointed out the staff in Moses’ hand and told him to throw it down to the ground. It turned into a snake. God told him to pick up the snake by the tail and, when he obeyed, the snake turned back into the staff. God was showing Moses how He would perform all kinds of miracles to show Himself to both Pharaoh and the Israelites.

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” – Exodus 4:11-12

GOD IS NEVER CAUGHT UNAWARE. HE IS NEVER WITHOUT A PLAN.

God has a plan and that plan often involves us. He calls us to do something and He desires obedience and faith. When we say, “Who am I? What can I do?”, God says — It’s not about you, it’s about me and “I Am Who I Am.” When we ask the Lord how we are going to be able to do what He is asking us to do, He says — Take what I have already placed in your hand, what I have already equipped you with, and let go of it. I will take it from there. I will tell you what to do and I will give you the words to say.

Perhaps you look down at your hands and see them as empty. Your current perspective is that you are not equipped to do what God is asking you to do. You do not see a staff in your hands, and therefore you feel incapable and inept, like you have nothing to offer the Lord.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease. “Now put your hand back into your cloak,” the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. – Exodus 4:6-7

It’s okay to come to the Lord empty handed. It’s not always about what you have to allow the Lord to use, but about how the Lord wants to use you to accomplish His plan for today. So give Him your whole self and be willing to even let God use an ailment in a part of your body for His glory and His purposes.

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” – Exodus 14:10-13

Oh how I wish I was not guilty of doing the same thing that Moses did! I have heard those same words and that same spirit of fear in my own response to God — Lord, please, send anyone else! I love you but please find someone else to do what you are asking me to do!

Father, forgive me for the missed opportunities; forgive me for letting my insecurities and fears cause me to miss a conversation when I could have experienced your Spirit giving me the words to say and clear instructions to follow. All that I have is yours; all that I am is yours.

God could have completely given up on Moses but He didn’t, just like He doesn’t give up on us. God allowed Moses to have a partner in his brother; He gave him a coworker to be his mouthpiece. And Aaron responded just as the Lord wants us to respond — in immediate obedience with a willing heart.

Now the Lord had said to Aaron, “Go out into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So Aaron went and met Moses at the mountain of God, and he embraced him. – Exodus 4:27

Many of us are called by God to rescue others who are suffering. We have a message to give those who are hurting – God hears, He is concerned and He has a plan to rescue them. Let’s listen closely to God today as we make ourselves available to be used by Him in the lives of others. Let’s respond in obedience and faith instead of fear and doubt. Let others know that God has seen, He has heard, He is concerned and He has come down to rescue them!!!

Praise the Lord, who is my rock.
He trains my hands for war
and gives my fingers skill for battle.
He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. – Psalm 144:1-2a