365 Reflections

Exodus 7 is a bit of a turning point in the story. It moves from the story of the man God would use to the story of redemption God will perform. Here's God's commission to Moses and Aaron: Exodus 7:2–4 (ESV)   You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. What a job. God first says, "Say all I command to Pharaoh." Then God says, "And I want you to know he will not listen to you." If that were my assignment I'd wonder what was the point! But herein lies the secret to works for God for those He has called. You are not in charge of results, you are simply assigned the task to speak. No one can m...

This post is the continuation of Moses' back and forth with God about why he feels inadequate for the cause he's been called to. Excuse #4: I am not talented enough. Exodus 4:10 (ESV)   But Moses said to the Lord , “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” This is equivalent to the "I don't know enough about God" excuse but for a different reason. Some of us want to spout off to prove ourselves. Others want to show off to prove ourselves. God will need neither.  Isn't that good news? God does not require talented people and therefore, the excuse doesn't work. Here's why: God can make the untalented talented.  Notice God's response: Exodus 4:11 (ESV) Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? The reality is you have the talents you need right now to get st...

I want to take two posts to look at the excuses of Moses when he is called by God to go to Pharaoh. We can understand the apprehension of a man who ran from Egypt in dismay of being caught with literal blood on his hands. So as the excuses begin to flow from Moses' mouth, the answers God gives him are symbolic lessons for any of us who would seek to escape the purpose and plan of God for our lives. Excuse #1: "Who am I?" Exodus 3:11 (ESV) But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Our tendency is to look at what we bring to the table when God asks us to step up and step out. We want to see the potential in us. The hard truth is God is not Tony Robbins. God's answer to Moses has nothing to do with what Moses brings to the table, it is all about what God brings to the table. "I will be with you" is His answer. Who God is is always enough for whomever God will use. There is no place Go...