A Grace Case: Moses (Part 14)

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at the life of Moses.  After everything the Lord promised to do for Moses we learned yesterday that the first thing that came out of his mouth was an excuse.  Instead of agreeing with God and accepting His assignment, Moses asked, “What if they do not believe me?”  To understand how insulting this could be to God we must go back to what the Lord told Moses in chapter three.  The Lord said, “The elders of Israel will listen to you.”  So what Moses said was a direct contradiction to what the Lord already said would happen.  It is like Moses was saying, “I don’t believe you, God.  I know what you said, but what if what you said doesn’t happen?”  Think about that for a minute.  Moses was not having a conversation with you or me, he was having a supernatural conversation with the Lord of lords and he was questioning the one true God.

Back in chapter three, the Lord was even gracious enough to go on to tell Moses what would happen next.  The Lord said, “Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. “And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.”  The Lord did not use unsure terms.  God did not say this “might” happen or “could” happen, no the Lord clearly said that this is what would happen.  The Lord was promising this and His reputation was on the line.  If it did not happen, just as He said it would happen, it would be a discrepancy in His sovereignty.  By saying exactly what was going to happen, the Lord was reassuring Moses that He would be there every step of the way to see him through the ordeal.

Now that we better understand what happened in chapter three, let’s fast-forward back to chapter four.  After already giving God one excuse and after the Lord so graciously responded to the excuse with reassurance, you would think that Moses would be ready for the assignment.  You would think that Moses would say, “Okay God, I believe you.  I don’t feel ready, but since You think I am ready, I must be.  Let’s go.”  But of course, it would not be that easy.  The next thing Moses said was, “O 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.”  You’ve gotta be kidding me!  First Moses questioned God, now he was questioning himself.  We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:
1.  The Lord graciously manifests His perfect glory in imperfect people.
2.  The Lord can make champions out of cowards.
3.  The Lord gives you His assignment by grace, not because of what you did or failed to do.
4.  Divine purpose is about the Lord’s will being manifested through you; sometimes in spite of you.
5.  Even when you don’t feel like you are ready, you are ready when the Lord says you are ready.
6.  If you are facing it, then you can take it – if you couldn’t, you wouldn’t be facing it.
7.  Excuses don’t disqualify you.  You can’t disqualify yourself from what God has qualified you for.

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for being so gracious to me.  You look past my fault, flaws, and failures.  You overlook my doubts and questioning.  You see my reservations and You choose to use me anyway.  For that I will always give You the glory.  I am far from perfect, but You choose to manifest Your perfect glory through me.  You put Your glory in me, an earthen vessel, so that the excellency would be of You and not of me.  Sometimes You bless me in spite of me.  Sometimes You seemingly have to go around me and my hesitations, in order to bless me and use me for Your glory.  I thank You for Your grace and I vow to do better.  From this day forward I shall seek to live by faith consistently.  I will stop questioning Your Kingdom plans and purposes and I will seek to accomplish them by faith.  Use me Father to make a difference in my sphere of influence today, and every day!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.