Exodus 3:11-1511 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[a] will worship God on this mountain.” 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[b] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[c] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
Pastor was giving his sermon this Sunday and I remember him going over this passage. Moses was an ordinary man who did not see himself as special, or posessing special gifts. When God spoke to Moses on Mount Horeb and informed Moses he was to lead God’s people out of Egypt, Moses response suggests he wasn’t convinced he was the man for the job. God assured Moses He will be with him on his journey.
Does God not do the same with us? Does He not tap us on the shoulder and put us in positions where He wants us to do His will? How often have we said “no thanks” because we’ve doubted our ability to go where God wants to lead us. Moses had the same doubts. Moses could have said “no thanks”. But God assured Moses He would be there with him. Would he not do the same for us whereever He leads us? Should we expect no less from the God who refers to himself as I Am? In those moments of doubt, when God wants to use us for His kingdom’s purpose, the thing that separates those who say “yes Lord” from those who say “no thanks” is faith.
God recognizes our weaknesses and frailties. He understands what we are capable of and what we are not. He loves to use us in ways we never dreamed of. By using ordinary people to do extraordinary things, we can only believe that we are capable of them through the intervention of our Heavenly Father. He wants us to lean on him, recognizing without Him, we are incapable of achieving most things let alone those where He has planned to use us. Until I was in my 40’s, my spiritual life consisted mostly of going to church every Sunday, considering that fulfilling my spiritual “requirement”. I had no idea what God lay in store for me. In 2003 Lisa and I joined Point of Grace, first by attending the Alpha course, then actually attending worship service. We became small group leaders of the next Alpha course, and since, have led five or six other small groups during Alpha. From that experience, God led Lisa and I to lead a small group outside of Alpha for 7 years. For some reason, God thought it would be a good idea to lend my voice to the Praise Team. Though I enjoy singing, I never considered my voice worthy of singing on the Praise Team. Word got to Dawn I could sing (not by my own admission, mind you). She asked me to audition. That was about six years ago. To this day, I pray before every service to use my voice as He sees fit. I have to give it all up to him as I still doubt my vocal abilities. Two years ago, he had another plan to use and stretch me on the Spiritual Leadership Team. I had my doubts about my “worthiness” and yes, my abilities to lend to the team at the time. He has shown me that He values us and our abilities far more than we do. What we lack He will provide when we do His will. What a blessing these experiences have been for me along my spiritual journey. I could have never had the courage or confidence to step up and be involved in areas that I have been in the past 9 years. Yet God has placed before me each new challenge and opportunity. Why me? I cannot say for certain. I do know that He has provided what I have lacked when called to follow Him. Perhaps you will be tapped on the shoulder and be used by God in areas you never thought you would. Fear and doubt are normal. Do not be afraid. Trust in Him to provide what you need in every circumstance. Remember how He used Moses. Remember that with the God of Abraham and Isaac, you can do anything He calls you to do. He calls us into a relationship with Him. Lean on Him. Trust Him. Deepen your faith through Him. The reward is beyond anything you would think or imagine. His servant kevin