That I Should Go

Imagine with me for a moment a young man-
Far from his place of birth.
Exiled from his family.
Tending his flock of sheep in the wilderness.

Suddenly- a great flame appeared and the angel of the Lord spoke to him.
Through a bush.

Ah, Moses.

I have always loved spending time in Exodus.
The call of Moses to go.
The way that the Lord used this man to free the children of Israel and plunder the Egyptians.

However this week- in my current heart state- I read this particular portion of scripture with sensitivity to the great call the Lord had placed on Moses.

(Have you ever felt that the Lord was calling you to do something unbelievable? inconceivable? )

Let us work our way through this together...

God is speaking to Moses and the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
The Lord makes clear to Moses that he is near and is standing on Holy ground.

He has the attention of brother Moses-

Then comes the call...

Exodus 3:10-12

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.
But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?'
He said 'But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."

Would you have asked the same question that Moses did?
...Who am I that I should go?

We see then that the Lord does not answer Moses' question in the way that he asks but says... "I will be with you"

The Lord has shown Moses that His presence is essential to the call.
It will be God himself and His nearness to enable Moses to carry out this calling.

The Lord then goes on to share with Moses what to say to the elders, the people of Israel and to the Pharaoh.

I cannot imagine what Moses must have been thinking.

...really, Lord? You want me to go and plunder the Pharaoh...

But the Lord tells Moses in verse 18 something unbelievable
"And they will listen to your voice...
and then in verse 22(b) the Lord tells Moses
"..so you shall plunder the Egyptians."

To Moses- this must have been impossible in His mind.
No, Lord- you have the wrong man.
I am exiled.
I am weak.
I am unworthy.

In Exodus chapter 4 verse 10 Moses says
"Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue.

Then the Lord said these words to Moses.
(I imagine these words must be read with authority. The Lord is commanding Moses to go. Guiding with his rod- telling Moses to obey.)

"Who has made man's mouth?
Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing or blind?
Is it not I, the Lord?
Now therefore go, and
I will be your mouth and I will teach you what you shall speak."


I am in tears reading and reflecting on this portion of scripture.
How many times, Oh Lord, have I doubted your ability to work through me?

The Lord does not call the equipped.
He equips the called.

What area of your life right now are you ignoring the Lord's call?
Is He calling you to go?
Is He calling you to give?
Is He calling you to speak?


You see- Moses tried all that he could to get out of this call-
and I would have done the same thing.
I do the same thing.

But see the truth that the Lord speaks over him--
I will be with you.
I have sent you.
I will be your mouth.
I will teach you what you should speak.

I think of the many things that the Lord has placed on my heart to accomplish-
tasks or calls that I avoid or bury deep because they are too daunting, too overwhelming and I do not feel equipped.

But the Lord is not calling me to go alone.
He is calling me to GO with him.
And be a vessel for Him.
A vessel equipped by Him to fulfill His purposes.

WHO ARE WE THAT WE SHOULD GO?
We are sinners who have been offered redemption through the sacrifice of God's only son. We are sons and daughters of the Most High whose purpose is to bring glory to Christ- and this purpose comes with a cost.

There will be cost in the call.
For Moses this cost was great- but obedience to Christ was His call.

What is the Lord calling you to do?
He will equip you to go to the Pharaohs gates.
He will equip you to speak with authority and might.
He will send you with the promise that you do not go alone.

Let us hold fast to our faith in King Jesus-
who reveals Himself, His promises and His purposes to use in our lives through the tasks that He calls us to accomplish- all for His name's sake.