“I CAN’T DO IT!”
Exodus 3:11-14, Exodus 4:1, 10-17
From where I stand it is a vertical cliff, straight up, no climbing gear, and I have a fear of heights! There is no way I can do this! I CAN’T DO IT! Often we feel the task at hand is too big for us, or too difficult to attempt. When God called Moses to lead Israel out of bondage, Moses argued his case before God of all his shortcomings, handicaps, and other reasons that he felt would validate his position that he is not the right person for the job. Moses declared, “I CAN’T DO IT!” In Exodus 3:11, Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God’s answer is still the same for you today, “Certainly I will be with thee”. For Moses, and probably for you too, this was not comforting enough. Moses thought, “OK, I go before these people and tell them the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you. Why are they going to follow me, how will they know that I am sent by you God? (Verse 13 paraphrased) They will challenge me to know “what is His name?” “What shall I say unto them?” In verse 14, God gives Moses the answer to tell Israel and it will settle the minds and hearts of God’s people. All Moses has to do is relay to the people the words that God has given him. Almost sounds simple! Still not simple enough to convince Moses that he is capable of this assignment. In Exodus 4:1, Moses has doubts that the Israelites will believe him, nor hearken unto his voice. God once again addresses Moses’ concerns and tries his best to comfort him and equip him with confidence, but Moses still has one last obstacle to overcome. This one is the biggest of them all in Moses’ eyes. Moses can’t talk! Well he can talk, but he is not able to talk eloquently, clearly, directly. Verse 10 Moses once again attempts to convince God he has made a wrong choice because, “I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue”. God calls whom he chooses. Most of the time He chooses the very ones that seem the unlikely choice for the task at hand. The disciples were “unlearned men” but spoke with wisdom and authority. God doesn’t choose the individual so the individual can be seen. God chooses an individual that God can be seen through them.
Moses finally accepted the calling on his life, and what a work God did through him! Are you resisting the work that God has called you to do? What great wonders are being held back for The Church of God, waiting for you to accept the call of God? God has GREAT plans for The Church of God. It is written that the latter house shall be greater than the former, Haggai 2:9. My mind cannot dream of what is before us. Let us not run from God, nor try to side step His desire for our lives. Let us embrace and trust that he “Certainly will be with us”. Keep moving forward in Christ. We have come too far to turn back now!
Jeremy Wallace
VLB Coordinator