Moses had already stepped out in faith by going to Egypt. He told his brother, Aaron, everything that had happened at the burning bush and Aaron spoke to the elders. The elders listened just like God said they would. Both of them went to Pharaoh and asked him to let the people go into the wilderness for three days to make a sacrifice to their God. Pharaoh refused, and instead, increased the Israelite's labor. It looked like a mess and Moses was a disaster. He tried to tell the people what God was saying; that they really would be freed from their oppression and rescued from their slavery, but the people didn't believe him anymore. Moses was just as afraid as ever, and he was resisting God again. And guess what...he blamed his clumsy speech.

Listen in on their conversation: "But LORD!" Moses objected, "My own people won't listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I'm such a clumsy speaker!" Moses blamed himself, but that isn't what the Lord saw at all. What had just happened was part of God's plan. He simply told Moses to go back to Pharaoh and tell him again to let the people of Israel go. God said, "I am the LORD! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you." Moses replied, "I can't do it! I'm such a clumsy speaker! Why would Pharaoh listen to me?" God wasn't giving up though. He said, "Moses, pay attention! I will make you seem like a god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. I will speak to you, and you will tell Aaron and Aaron will tell Pharaoh, but don't expect Pharaoh to listen. I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn so that I can show many miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Now Go!" (from Ex. 6:9-7:3).

I can identify with Moses. Sitting behind a computer screen and writing, now, that's comfortable! But speak? I feel just like Moses. "I won't make sense. My discomfort will show. What if I forget what I'm saying and I can't recover? What if I look or sound foolish? What if I bore people? What if I'm not perfect?" Yep! I say all of these things. The lessons from the life of Moses I'm writing about are for me as much as anybody. You see, because I've written a book, I might get opportunities to speak. And God says He will help me. He says He is sending me. And like Moses, after I'm done making my excuses, I tell God I don't want to do it. But God isn't having it. Even though I am resistant, He is not giving up on me. He is reminding me again and again of His faithfulness. He is sending people to remind me it's not about me! And just like God told Moses and Aaron to go, he is telling me to go. And my heart is responding slowly and surely!

What is your story? Has God told you to go, but you don't know if you want to? Are you making excuses? Are you afraid? Or resistant like Moses? Have you stepped out in faith only to have it go badly from your perspective? And now you want to quit? If God didn't give up on Moses and He's not giving up on me, then I think it's safe to say, He will not give up on you either no matter how many times you stumble or resist. I am so thankful that God is loving and patient. He says you are never too far gone; you are never too weak for Me to use. In fact, I use the weak to show off My strength and power. I will keep going after your heart and reminding you of everything you need to know. Your excuses won't hold water, and your insecurities will cause Me to keep telling you how much I love you; and how much I believe in you. I will continue asking you to trust Me until the day I say "Go!" and you say, "I will!" And when things don't go the way you hoped they would, you will come back to Me and get My perspective.

Since Moses had already stepped out in faith and it didn't go well, he was ready to quit. God said, "Not so fast! The 'not going well' part...that was Me. I planned it that way. It had nothing to do with your speech. Trust Me. I know what I'm doing." Maybe He is saying that to you as well. He knows your insecurities, and He knows what holds you back. But He wants to use you anyway. He uses the weak to confound the wise. He uses our insecurities to cause us to turn to Him because it is His power that is at work. It's not about us; it's about God! If you have stepped out and things didn't turn out the way you expected, then consider that it may have worked out the way God intended it. His ways are higher than our ways, and He sees the bigger picture. We only see in part which is why He asks us to trust Him. He will never fail us! So, Let's get going!

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the

strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is

perfected in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my

weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (BSB)

#Moses #obedience #God