A Grace Case: Moses (Part 16)

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at the life of Moses.  We are still at the ‘burning bush’ in this story and we have already seen how Moses questioned God and questioned his own ability.  Before we are too hard on Moses, let’s take a minute to think about the magnitude of the situation.  Moses had been living in exile for 40 years.  He had already assimilated into the Midianite culture.  He was born a Jew, raised an Egyptian, and was living as a Midianite when the Lord visited him at the burning bush, during a mundane task.  I can understand how Moses had a hard time taking it all in.  This was not a run-of-the-mill encounter.  We are talking about a supernatural encounter with the Lord Himself.  And the Lord was attempting to get Moses to receive an assignment that would both accomplish God’s Kingdom plans and purposes, and change Moses’ life and lineage forever.  If the Lord did something similar with you, would you be ready, within a few minutes, to take the assignment?  Or would you also possibly question God and your own ability?

Yesterday we saw how Moses attempted to get out of the assignment by saying that he was not eloquent and how the Lord reassured Moses that He would help him speak and tell him what to say.  Now, if the Lord Himself reassured you that He will be with you, to help you speak and to tell you what to say, then there are not many more excuses you can come up with.  So, you would think that Moses would say, “Okay Lord, I give in.  You win.  I accept the assignment.  Let’s go.  You know I am not qualified, but You promised to be with me every step of the way.”  However, that is not what Moses said.  Once Moses realized that he did not have any more excuses, instead of accepting the assignment, Moses simply said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”  Even after all the Lord went through to reassure Moses, he was ready to throw it all away and he flat-out turned down the assignment.

Even though God is a God of grace and mercy, and even though God already knew before the foundations of the world that Moses would turn Him down, the Bible says that “The Lord’s anger burned against Moses.”  The Lord was not happy at all.  But since He is all-knowing, He had already made plans for Moses’ insecurities.  The Lord said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.”  The Lord could have dismissed Moses because of his unbelief.  He could have found someone else.  He could have given the assignment to Aaron and allowed Moses to sit by and think about what ‘could have been.’  But the Lord did not do any of that.  The Lord was dedicated to working with Moses, insecurities and all, because of His grace.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:
1.  Your fears and insecurities are not news to God.  He knew you would have them and He chose you anyway.
2.  The Lord is dedicated to working with you, to maximize the purpose and potential He has placed inside of you, even though He knows you are often going to work against His Kingdom assignment for your life.
3.  When you operate in faith you are able to cooperate with God and receive His best.  When you operate in fear, doubt, and unbelief you might still get it done, but you often wind up doing so in a way that was not God’s best for your life.  So resist fear, doubt, and unbelief at all costs.

Closing Confession:  Father, You know my thoughts before I think them, my feelings before I feel them, and my fears before I express them.  You know me better than I even know myself, and the fact that You still chose to use me — with all my failures, faults, flaws, and insecurities — helps me better understand Your grace.  Moses was not perfect, but You chose to use him anyway and when You retold Moses’ story in the New Testament, You did it in such a way that makes Moses look like a faith giant.  What You did for Moses, You will do for me.  You have used, are using, and will use me for Your glory.  And when my story is told, after my struggles and even after I am gone, You will ensure that I get presented in the best light.  Not because I was the best, but because of Your grace.  Thank You Father for being so good to me.  Your grace is truly amazing and I enter into this day with great expectations, because I serve a God of Grace, Mercy, and Hope!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.