- Who am I to appear before Pharaoh?
- Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?
- If I go to the people of Israel…..what should I tell them?
- What if they don’t believe me or listen to me?
- What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?
- O Lord, I’m not very good with words. Never have been and never will be, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied and my words get tangled!
- Lord, please! Send ANYONE else!
How often do we worry about the opinions of others – What will they think of me if I do this or say that? – shouldn’t we ONLY worry about God’s opinion of us?!
How often do we refer to our track record – I’ve never been good at public speaking. I can't do this, and I can't do that – and automatically think that disqualifies God from using us?
O Please Lord, ask someone else! Please God, use anyone else, but don’t send me!
I believe this is exactly where God wants us – he wants us to be outside of our comfort zones and beyond our personal limits – it’s in these places where we come face-to-face with our need for him! David Platt says it well in Radical:
“God delights in exalting our inabilities. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face-to-face with their need for him. In the process, he powerfully demonstrates HIS ABILITY to provide everything his people need in ways they never could have thought or imagined. In the end, he makes much of his name!”
When God makes us aware of our weaknesses, he doesn’t want us coming up with excuses – he wants us to see his strength, his ability, and his power that will bring us through to the other side. His grace is sufficient and his power works best in weakness. God wants us relying on him, not ourselves.
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure and we though we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.”
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
I love reading through these chapters in Exodus because they demonstrate God’s patience! God worked in Moses and through Moses despite Moses’ view of himself. God nudged him along in a loving manner in order to accomplish God’s ultimate plan, setting the Israelites free from Egyptian rule.
I know I often mirror Moses’ behavior –
“But, God! Really, you want to use me? You want me to travel the world preaching the Good News? I don’t know the Bible inside and out; I haven’t read the Bible cover to cover! I’m not qualified. What if people think I’m crazy? Lord, I’m not the best communicator; I easily get tongue-tied, and jumble my thoughts together. You couldn't possibly want to use me.”Then the Lord patiently reminds me that the things he required of me may not make sense, at least not from my mere mortal perspective! But the Lord is with me at all times; he never leaves me nor abandons me. His word goes out from him mouth; it will not return void, but will accomplish what he desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it.
“This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:25
God has a history of using the least qualified to accomplish mighty things for the Kingdom. Through him, we can find hope and confidence. If he uses others, in their weaknesses, surely he can use me, in ALL my weaknesses!
“I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom, but in the power of God!”
1 Corinthians 2:3-5
This is why the least qualified, and the most unlikely people are used to further the Kingdom – to showcase God's mighty power! When the lowly make splashes for the Kingdom, there’s no other explanation besides GOD!
Here I am Lord! Use me in my weaknesses and despite my excuses! Send me, may it bring your name eternal glory!
