Corona Devo 232

Is God asking you to do something/go somewhere/say something for Him in order to help others or to bring knowledge of Himself to others in order to free them?  

Are we hesitating?

Sharing the Gospel and God's plan does not just happen.  If we all live our lives as sheep milling around with our heads down, we will never be a part of assisting the Great Shepherd with His commission of freeing people from themselves and giving them freedom in Christ.    

But we always have an excuse, don't we?  

It's embarrassing how quickly we can talk-ourselves-out-of serving God.  We should be ashamed at shying away when God puts an assignment on our desk and we ignore it.  But the truth is, our response is not uncommon.  

Moses did some of God's heavy lifting in the Bible, and yet he whined like a toddler to get out of serving God initially.  Moses' story (and lack of willingness) is not pretty in the beginning, but God's patience, reassurance, and then kick-in-the-butt to Moses also rings true for God's persistence in us serving Him in our lives and today. 

9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”  11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ~Exodus 3:9-11

Perhaps we doubt that God has chosen the right person to represent Him.  We are not qualified.  But is a more honest translation of this that we are not interested in the task?  In the time, energy, and possible humility that comes with speaking/serving/reaching-out for God?

The core hesitancy in Moses and us is most likely caused by our insecurity.  But we do not go on assignment for the Lord alone:  12 And God said, “I will be with you.  (Exodus 3:12).

But Moses hesitated.

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13).

Perhaps we fear that people will ask us questions about God that we can't answer.  Fear of failure holds us back in many areas of life.  But God is not interested in our knowledge.  He is interested in our willingness to serve Him.  And we needn't worry: God's message and Who He Is speaks for itself.  

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14).

But Moses hesitated.

4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”  (Exodus 4:1).

Perhaps we are afraid of people doubting us, or not-believing that God is actually using us to propel His message to others.  (Why are we always so afraid of what people will think of us?) 

But God graciously gave Moses proof to reassure him and the people, and He will provide proof as we carry His message too.

First, God changes Moses' staff into a snake (!), and then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.  (Exodus 4:4).

Then the Lord told Moses to put his hand inside his jacket, and when he pulled it out, he had leprosy.  But then God told him to put his hand back in and then out of his coat, and his skin was healed.  

And even these miraculous signs, Moses still hesitated.

10 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.” 

11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  (Exodus 4:10-11).

Embarrassingly, (and frustratingly to the Lord) Moses still hesitated.

13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well...  16 He will speak to the people for you..." (Exodus 4:14,16).

Can we agree that God is patient with our protests in serving Him? 

God knew the plan He had for Moses, and God knows the plan He has for us.  The excuses we claim may be honest, but they must not stop the progress of God's plan for each of us in spreading His hope.  

Today, we each have assignments from God, and I know that we each have hesitancies about moving forward in them.  

But when God asks us to do something/go somewhere/say something for Him, we must participate in propelling His efforts, because His purpose is to free people.  

Moses' assignment from God was freeing the enslaved Israelite population in Egypt.  But there are friends, neighbors and loved ones in our circles who are enslaved to fear, worry, health concerns, politics, hopelessness and faithlessness.  We have to stop hesitating and accept our assignment.  God can free them.    

And God said, “I will be with you.  (Exodus 3:12).

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com