Exodus 4:2
Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"Who am I that I should go..." This was Moses' question. God had personally called Moses out to fullfill his life's destiny and all Moses could do was express his own personal feelings of inadequacy.
In his banter back and forth with God, Moses continually gave God reasons why he was not equipped for the job.
"If they question me, how will I answer them?"(Ex. 3:13)
"What if they don't believe me?"(Ex. 4:1)
"I am slow of speech."(Ex. 4:10)
Three times Moses tried to explain to God why he was not the man for the job. Three times he described why he did not have what it took to deliver the Hebrew nation from the hand of the Egyptians. And three times God answered him.
The theme of God's answers can be summed up in one question from God. "What is that in your hand?" God pointed out what Moses already possessed.
To Moses' worry of how the Hebrew leaders might question him, God gave Moses His name. The name of God in this story was reiterated over and over again to express God's personal and present hand of deliverance. God Himself was a companion that Moses already had. God had appeared to Moses' fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacod and promised Himself to their decendants forever. God was already present in Moses' life.
To Moses' doubt that the Hebrews wouldn't believe him, God pointed out Moses' staff as a medium to express God's power. Moses was now working as a shephard. His staff is the one thing that Moses would have always had with him. God knew this. God knew what Moses had in his hand.
To Moses fear that his speech would not be appropriate for Pharoah, God reminded Moses of who had created his mouth in the first place. At Moses' persistence, God even appointed his brother Aaron to speak for him. A family member of Moses in place before the burning bush
God equipped Moses with tools and gifts that Moses already possessed. By birth Moses was already in covenant relationship with God. By trade Moses already had a staff. By creation Moses already had a mouth. And by heritage Moses already had a brother.
God knew these things. God did not casually use what was in Moses' life out of convience. God had a plan to use those things that had been planted in Moses' life from years before.
How often do we explain to God the reasons that we are ill-equipped for the task He gives us. How often do we overlook our own equipping, all the while God is busy making us ready for every good work.
The reality is this: You and I already have everything we need to do what God has called us to do. You and I are already equipped for every good work. You and I have already been given gifts from God to carry out His mission for our lives.
He has given us Himself and His name. In so doing He has ordained us and declared us as ambassadors of His Kingdom.
He has given us a staff. A means to express His great power. This may be some ability you have through which God can magnify Himself.
He has given us our own created bodies. However imperfect they may seem to us, they are perfect for His work.
He has even given us our family and friends to help carry the message.
As you look to the task ahead, rest assured that in Christ you truly have what it takes. You are equipped so step out in obedience and faith and trust in the One who has equipped you.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Moses pt 3 - From fear to FAITH
Hebrews 11:27
By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
Have you ever walked in fear? Have you ever wished you had more faith? Have you ever wondered how you can move from fear to faith? Moses' life can show us the path.
When Moses was forty years old he killed an Egyptian in an effort to relieve the burden being put on the Hebrew people. Once Pharaoh knew of his actions, he set out to kill Moses. Moses fled to the wilderness as a fugitive in fear for his life.
Moses made a grave mistake. Now he sought refuge in the anonymity of the wilderness. He ran to where he was not known.
But God. (What a wonderful phrase.) But God was very aware of where Moses was and who Moses was. God watched over Moses very carefully and when the time was right, God brought him back. Back to Egypt Back to the place of his transgression.
Hebrews speaks of when Moses lead the people out with no fear of king. How is this possible? How could Moses have left in fear for his life and then leave again with the entire Hebrew nation and have no fear of the king?
The answer lies at the end of Hebrews 11:27: "...because he saw HIM who was invisible." Moses had a burning bush encounter with God. God had shown up in Moses' life and Moses did not turn away. In fact the Bible says that when Moses saw the burning bush he turned towards it to investigate. God revieled himself to Moses and that made all the difference.
A man on the run. Aren't we all? It seems like so many people are moving forward in an effort to distance themselves from something in their past.
But God. But God is calling us out. He is exposing us. Not to the world in shame but to himself. God is offering His face to us. This is our burning bush opportunity. We are to look into His face. We are to investigate Him more. We are to press into Him.
He is calling each one of us into a work that may seem to like much. He is asking of us more than we can give. He may even be calling us back to our place of transgression to lead out those still trapped. How can we do this? How can we move from fear to FAITH? Because we have seen the one who is invisible.
Look into His face today and be filled with Faith.
By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
Have you ever walked in fear? Have you ever wished you had more faith? Have you ever wondered how you can move from fear to faith? Moses' life can show us the path.
When Moses was forty years old he killed an Egyptian in an effort to relieve the burden being put on the Hebrew people. Once Pharaoh knew of his actions, he set out to kill Moses. Moses fled to the wilderness as a fugitive in fear for his life.
Moses made a grave mistake. Now he sought refuge in the anonymity of the wilderness. He ran to where he was not known.
But God. (What a wonderful phrase.) But God was very aware of where Moses was and who Moses was. God watched over Moses very carefully and when the time was right, God brought him back. Back to Egypt Back to the place of his transgression.
Hebrews speaks of when Moses lead the people out with no fear of king. How is this possible? How could Moses have left in fear for his life and then leave again with the entire Hebrew nation and have no fear of the king?
The answer lies at the end of Hebrews 11:27: "...because he saw HIM who was invisible." Moses had a burning bush encounter with God. God had shown up in Moses' life and Moses did not turn away. In fact the Bible says that when Moses saw the burning bush he turned towards it to investigate. God revieled himself to Moses and that made all the difference.
A man on the run. Aren't we all? It seems like so many people are moving forward in an effort to distance themselves from something in their past.
But God. But God is calling us out. He is exposing us. Not to the world in shame but to himself. God is offering His face to us. This is our burning bush opportunity. We are to look into His face. We are to investigate Him more. We are to press into Him.
He is calling each one of us into a work that may seem to like much. He is asking of us more than we can give. He may even be calling us back to our place of transgression to lead out those still trapped. How can we do this? How can we move from fear to FAITH? Because we have seen the one who is invisible.
Look into His face today and be filled with Faith.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Moses pt 2 - Destiny, Now or Never?
Acts 7:23-25 He (Moses) saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.
On the stage of life, just as on the stage of theater, timing is everything. The right line; the punch line at the wrong time can ruin the entire performance. The right words, wrongly placed can cause harm and confusion. Such is the case of Moses' first attempt to fulfill his destiny.
From before his birth, Moses had been set aside for this exact purpose: to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt in a way that would display God's mighty power. At his birth his mother recognized that he was special. Timing. At three months of age Pharaoh's daughter had compassion on him. Timing. And at forty he murdered a man to fulfill the call of God on his life. Again, timing.
How is it that Moses' destiny, while true and sure, would lead him down such a path so contrary to the God who had destined him? TIMING.
Moses had a God-given purpose; a calling; a destiny. There are many elements that make up a destiny.
Passion. Moses was obviously passionate about his destiny. So much so that he would take the life of another man to live in that passion.
Value of others. Moses risked his own life to rescue his Hebrew brother.
Connection. After all Moses was a Hebrew.
And Timing. God's Timing.
What Moses possessed in these first three elements, he lacked in Timing. In lacking Timing he showed that he lacked trust in God. God is the one who had placed this calling on Moses' life in the first place. God is the one who had spared Moses' life. God is the one who had given him the passion, and value for others, and his connection.
Somewhere along the way Moses chose to follow the Calling instead of the Caller. Moses chose to be controlled by his destiny instead of entrusting his future into the hands of the one who created that future. He literally took matters into his own hands. In so doing, he rushed ahead of God's Timing and set out to free the Hebrew nation in his own Timing. His rhythm was off. His feet were out of step. He rushed the punch line. It cost a man his life and Moses' own people were confused by his actions.
Thank God for Timing. Thank God for Grace. Through Grace, God gave Moses another opportunity to live in his calling. When Moses learned to lay down his own life, God reached into his heart and pulled up all those things that had been planted so deep. Things Moses was sure were gone forever. Things Moses was sure he had buried in the sand with the dead Egyptian. But with God Calling remains, Grace restores and Timing is set right again.
On the stage of life, just as on the stage of theater, timing is everything. The right line; the punch line at the wrong time can ruin the entire performance. The right words, wrongly placed can cause harm and confusion. Such is the case of Moses' first attempt to fulfill his destiny.
From before his birth, Moses had been set aside for this exact purpose: to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt in a way that would display God's mighty power. At his birth his mother recognized that he was special. Timing. At three months of age Pharaoh's daughter had compassion on him. Timing. And at forty he murdered a man to fulfill the call of God on his life. Again, timing.
How is it that Moses' destiny, while true and sure, would lead him down such a path so contrary to the God who had destined him? TIMING.
Moses had a God-given purpose; a calling; a destiny. There are many elements that make up a destiny.
Passion. Moses was obviously passionate about his destiny. So much so that he would take the life of another man to live in that passion.
Value of others. Moses risked his own life to rescue his Hebrew brother.
Connection. After all Moses was a Hebrew.
And Timing. God's Timing.
What Moses possessed in these first three elements, he lacked in Timing. In lacking Timing he showed that he lacked trust in God. God is the one who had placed this calling on Moses' life in the first place. God is the one who had spared Moses' life. God is the one who had given him the passion, and value for others, and his connection.
Somewhere along the way Moses chose to follow the Calling instead of the Caller. Moses chose to be controlled by his destiny instead of entrusting his future into the hands of the one who created that future. He literally took matters into his own hands. In so doing, he rushed ahead of God's Timing and set out to free the Hebrew nation in his own Timing. His rhythm was off. His feet were out of step. He rushed the punch line. It cost a man his life and Moses' own people were confused by his actions.
Thank God for Timing. Thank God for Grace. Through Grace, God gave Moses another opportunity to live in his calling. When Moses learned to lay down his own life, God reached into his heart and pulled up all those things that had been planted so deep. Things Moses was sure were gone forever. Things Moses was sure he had buried in the sand with the dead Egyptian. But with God Calling remains, Grace restores and Timing is set right again.
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