This week, my Old Testament course required reading Exodus from start to finish, all the way through, in one sitting. I've read Exodus many times, but I'm not sure if I had done so start to finish. It is a lot of reading, but it is powerful!
I was also prepping for the first night of a small group I lead. The words of God and Moses in Exodus 3 and 4 seemed to be a perfect start for this group. Praise God for his always timely word - and for the professor who assigned it this week!
Exodus 3 is the "burning bush" passage, where the Lord addresses Moses and calls him to the task of going to Egypt and freeing the Israelites from slavery. When Moses asks the Lord who he should say sent him, the Lord's response is "I AM WHO I AM." The Lord goes on, telling Moses to remind the Israelites that "I AM" is the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...the same God from generation to generation.
In chapter 4, Moses has a big moment of feeling small and inadequate. He asks the question "what if they don't believe me?" He says he isn't eloquent - he doesn't have the words to speak, the words to say. Then he pulls the "please pick someone else."
God responds to each of Moses' concerns. HeI shows Moses what to do if the people don't believe him. He tells Moses he will help him speak and teach him what to say. To Moses' plea of 'send someone else,' God gets frustrated and reiterates that if He has called Moses, there isn't any excuse that will get him off the hook. The Lord will provide, the Lord will make happen what he wants done.
I started to ponder this. Who do I say God is? When God tells Moses that he is the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he is reminding him of the promises made and the promises fulfilled. He is sending Moses to rescue people who have forgotten his promises. Like the Israelites, how often do I forget about my God, the God of promises made, promises kept and promises fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus? Who do I say God is?
The second question is who do I say I am? How often am I like Moses? How often do I feel insufficient? Like nothing? Like not enough? How often do I allow these feelings of inadequacy to prevent God's will and call on my life? I forget all too easily that "I AM" is the same "I AM" who spoke to Moses.The God who said to Moses I will help you, I will provide for you, I will equip you with what you need to do the task I have called you to is the same God, doing the same for me.
Too often in life, we feel inadequate. We feel we aren't enough to do what the Lord wants and need us to do. The question I posed to the small group is "what is God calling you to do, right here...right now? How is he equipping you to do that?" The kids are in high school. Their call is special - to share the message of hope with their friends, their sports teams, in their activities. I know each of them have been been chosen by God to serve in their time and place, in their high school. It's a pretty cool thought. And if we all think about it, and pray about it - the way God is equipping them to is so clear! He is telling them, teaching them, providing for them as they answer his call. How great is our God!?!?!
How is God calling you to share his truth, his message, his hope with a broken, hurting world? In your workplaces, homes, the activities you do, the people you serve, you have been specially called to shine the light of Jesus. He is calling you! He has given you everything you need to go and share! Like he promises Moses in Exodus 4: I will help you. I will teach you. I pray today, you will be reminded of who God is and who you are in him. I pray that you will be renewed in your passion for him and your desire to serve him where you are, fully relying on him to help you answer his call!
Lord God,
Help me to see my value is in you. Help me know that you have chosen me to do your will and your work, despite my feelings of insufficiency. Remind me that you never leave nor forsake those you have called. Guide me as I seek your help and trust your teaching so I can seek you and serve you well, wherever that may be. It is your will, God. I will not be moved, I will not be shaken, for I stand with the great "I AM."
Amen
I was also prepping for the first night of a small group I lead. The words of God and Moses in Exodus 3 and 4 seemed to be a perfect start for this group. Praise God for his always timely word - and for the professor who assigned it this week!
Exodus 3 is the "burning bush" passage, where the Lord addresses Moses and calls him to the task of going to Egypt and freeing the Israelites from slavery. When Moses asks the Lord who he should say sent him, the Lord's response is "I AM WHO I AM." The Lord goes on, telling Moses to remind the Israelites that "I AM" is the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...the same God from generation to generation.
In chapter 4, Moses has a big moment of feeling small and inadequate. He asks the question "what if they don't believe me?" He says he isn't eloquent - he doesn't have the words to speak, the words to say. Then he pulls the "please pick someone else."
God responds to each of Moses' concerns. HeI shows Moses what to do if the people don't believe him. He tells Moses he will help him speak and teach him what to say. To Moses' plea of 'send someone else,' God gets frustrated and reiterates that if He has called Moses, there isn't any excuse that will get him off the hook. The Lord will provide, the Lord will make happen what he wants done.
I started to ponder this. Who do I say God is? When God tells Moses that he is the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he is reminding him of the promises made and the promises fulfilled. He is sending Moses to rescue people who have forgotten his promises. Like the Israelites, how often do I forget about my God, the God of promises made, promises kept and promises fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus? Who do I say God is?
The second question is who do I say I am? How often am I like Moses? How often do I feel insufficient? Like nothing? Like not enough? How often do I allow these feelings of inadequacy to prevent God's will and call on my life? I forget all too easily that "I AM" is the same "I AM" who spoke to Moses.The God who said to Moses I will help you, I will provide for you, I will equip you with what you need to do the task I have called you to is the same God, doing the same for me.
Too often in life, we feel inadequate. We feel we aren't enough to do what the Lord wants and need us to do. The question I posed to the small group is "what is God calling you to do, right here...right now? How is he equipping you to do that?" The kids are in high school. Their call is special - to share the message of hope with their friends, their sports teams, in their activities. I know each of them have been been chosen by God to serve in their time and place, in their high school. It's a pretty cool thought. And if we all think about it, and pray about it - the way God is equipping them to is so clear! He is telling them, teaching them, providing for them as they answer his call. How great is our God!?!?!
How is God calling you to share his truth, his message, his hope with a broken, hurting world? In your workplaces, homes, the activities you do, the people you serve, you have been specially called to shine the light of Jesus. He is calling you! He has given you everything you need to go and share! Like he promises Moses in Exodus 4: I will help you. I will teach you. I pray today, you will be reminded of who God is and who you are in him. I pray that you will be renewed in your passion for him and your desire to serve him where you are, fully relying on him to help you answer his call!
Lord God,
Help me to see my value is in you. Help me know that you have chosen me to do your will and your work, despite my feelings of insufficiency. Remind me that you never leave nor forsake those you have called. Guide me as I seek your help and trust your teaching so I can seek you and serve you well, wherever that may be. It is your will, God. I will not be moved, I will not be shaken, for I stand with the great "I AM."
Amen
