God appeared to Moses in the midst of the burning bush on the backside of the desert at Mount Horeb. It was there that the LORD revealed to Moses that he was chosen to lead his people, the Jews, out of Egypt. Moses resisted God’s plan for himself and offered a number of excuses as to why God should choose someone else.
His first excuse was that he was common and unknown. “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Moses’ assessment of himself was accurate, but that was not important. God promised him “Certainly I will be with thee” (Exodus 3:12). When it comes to serving God “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (I Corinthians 1:26). God is pleased to use the common things that the glory might all accrue unto himself. Paul captured this truth in one of his letters to the Corinthian believers when he spoke of his ministry among them. “But we have this treasure [the gospel ministry] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
God was working with Moses to impress indelibly on his heart that God’s presence with him was provision enough. Yet Moses resisted and answered God “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee” (Exodus 4:1). God demonstrated to Moses that it was not Moses’ effort that would convince the people of Israel, but rather the power of God. “And the LORD said unto him, what is that in thy hand? And he said, a rod. And he said, cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it” (Exodus 4:2-3).
God brings his power to bear upon what we already have to use it for his glory. Recall the record of the young lad who had only five loaves and two fishes (John 6:5-14). Christ fed 5,000 men with that which the boy had brought with him. Serving God is never about who we are or what we have. Serving God is always about making ourselves available for him to use.
Finally, Moses made one last argument to God asserting his unsuitability for the task. “And Moses said unto the LORD, I am not eloquent…but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10). God pointed out to Moses that it was not Moses’ words that would convert the hearts of his people, but God’s word through Moses. “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:11-12).
The work of God is accomplished by God’s own power and his own word. If we know him as Lord and Savior, we have the great privilege of being used by him to advance his work. Tell me, what is that in thy hand? Are you willing to use it for the Lord?
From the Chaplain 