Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Moses in the Bible… and the parallels between Moses and modern day Christians who, simply, don’t feel “good enough.”
But the amazing thing is – you don’t have to be super smart, super talented, super rich, or super experienced for God to do something super special with you.
It’s something I like to refer to as “The Moses Effect.”
Let’s take a look at the life of Moses.
- Moses had a speech impediment: He didn’t think Pharaoh would listen to him because of it.
– “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10
– “But Moses said to the Lord, ‘If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” - Moses was freaked out: He didn’t want the call that was placed on his life, begging God to let someone else speak to Pharaoh instead of him.
– “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11
– “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Exodus 4:13 - Moses wasn’t morally perfect. In fact, he killed a man:
– “One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
Exodus 2:11-13
I’ve heard the saying time and time again “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.” You see, it wasn’t Moses doing the cool thing. It was God doing the cool thing through Moses.
Recently, I’ve been feeling ill-equipped to do the things God’s asked of me, to step into the roles that have been put in my path. To be honest with you, they all freak me out and I’m blown away when I look at everything I’m being asked to do – the responsibilities I’m being entrusted with. I don’t even know how I got to where I am. I’m running my own department at Adventures in Missions. I’ve been called to start a nonprofit in Haiti that has a business component to it (and let me tell you, I have NO business doing business), and I’m leading an “Extreme” trip to Haiti this November with a hard physical element to it. I’ve prayed for leaders going out in to the nations. I’ve helped become a disciple who makes disciples. I’ve spoken to every group of World Racers who have gone out since this spring – and have trained amazing storyleaders. Essentially, I’ve been a part of a charge to change a culture at an organization to view storytelling as ministry. And to me, that’s WILD.
The other day, I was asked by a leader at Adventures to lead a prayer for our nation during Monday morning worship. It was the day we all found out about the shooting in Las Vegas, and to be honest with you, I was terrified to be the one to lead the prayer. I didn’t know what to say, and it was to a crowd of people I consider spiritual giants – including my boss and tons of other people I look up to. But I got up on the stage, and hands trembling, I said a prayer. I really think God gave me the words, because I had no idea what to say. I kinda blacked out – because I don’t remember what I said!
“When you are brought before synagogues, rules, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:11-12
The Lord to Moses, “Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:12
Lately I’ve been freaked out, nervous, hands trembling, sometimes holding myself together by a thread as I push with full force into the things God’s asking me to do. And I haven’t always known exactly what to do.
But you know what? The Lord has guided every step of the way for me. He’s given me the words to say. He’s handed me the staff and he’s parted the waters for me.
And he’ll do it for you. To do some big things in life, you’ve gotta take some big risks. But those “risks” aren’t risky when God’s the one asking you to take them. You can’t fail, because he’s guiding every step of the way. He’s gonna part your Red Sea too. You just have to say yes.
