What can happen on an ordinary day? What event can happen that will change that ordinary day into one that changes our life forever? We can start our day in the usual, standard way, and then something extraordinary, something either catastrophic or wonderful happens, and we are never the same afterwards. We can be driving to work as usual, and a careless driver slams into our car, leaving us crippled for life. It can be a nice clear day in the morning, but by the afternoon a tornado can come, leaving our house flattened to the ground. An ordinary day can end with us having met the man or woman of our dreams, or we can be offered the job we always wished for. Our Old Testament Scripture for this week tells of how one ordinary day brought an event that changed the life of someone forever, and with him, the lives of countless other people.
As our Scripture opens, Moses had started his day like he had for so many years before. He was a shepherd who tended the flocks of sheep for his father-in-law Jethro. At this time he had the flocks grazing at the foot of Mt. Horeb, which is also known as Mt. Sinai (vs. 1). If we recall, Moses was one of the children of Israel, born as a slave in Egypt. However he was placed into a water-tight basket which was put into the Nile to save him from death by Pharaoh’s orders. Pharaoh’s daughter found him and brought him up as her own child in the royal palaces. Fast-forward forty years, and Moses discovers his heritage, and kills an overseer of the slaves, and ends up fleeing into the deserts of Midian. There he met Jethro and married one of his daughters (Exodus 2:1-21). Now another forty years has passed, Moses is 80 and tending the sheep.
As Moses kept an eye on the flock, just as he had for the past forty years, he noticed something curious. Off in the distance he noticed a small bush or shrub on fire. The odd thing was that though it was on fire, the bush wasn’t being consumed by the fire (vs. 2-3). Moses had a curious mind, so he went to check this out. It is always good to keep a curious mind. If Moses had just ignored this, he would have missed out on God’s calling. Don’t miss out on what God has for you because you have let your mind become dull.
As Moses approached, God called out to him, warning him that the ground he was on was holy ground (vs. 4-5). What made it holy ground? Was it because of the burning bush or something special about the mountain? A place is holy ground because it is a place where God’s presence is intimately experienced and deeply felt. God can come to us in a special way at any time and any place, and that place will be holy ground. Moses removed his shoes in reverence to God who met him there.
As God continued to speak to Moses, He reminded him that He was aware of what was happening to the people of Israel, that they were slaves and cruelly treated in Egypt (vs. 6-9). Though they might not realize it, as they were going through terrible difficulties, God had not forgotten them, and He still remembered His promises. Our trials may be heavy, and it seems as if God has forgotten us, but He hasn’t. God waits for the opportune time.
God continued talking to Moses, and proceeded to tell him the assignment He had for him (vs. 10). God wished for Moses to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go free, and he was to lead them to the land that God had promised them. Moses was stunned. Who was he to go and do something like that? (vs. 11). He was just a humble shepherd, a nobody. He may have been an adopted member of the royal family years ago, but that counted for nothing today. He told God that he couldn’t do anything like that, that he wanted to pass on this assignment, and to find someone else. Moses continued to give excuses, including that he did not have the ability to, but God would not take no for an answer. He reminded Moses that He would be with him, and give him all power and ability to do what He asked.
To hold back from doing something that God has called us to do by saying we aren’t able to, or we don’t have the skills, is a form of rebellion. It is saying that God is not powerful enough to equip us, and that His will being done on earth depends upon our natural ability. God is more than able to equip us. He will accomplish His purposes with or without us. So don’t you want to be a part of it?
Whether it is ourselves that say that we don’t have the ability, or it is someone else that is saying we don’t have the skill or the education to do what we know God has called us to do, we need to stop listening to those voices, and obey God’s Voice. He has promised that if we believe Him, and move forward in obedience, He’ll show us what He wants us to do, and then give us the ability to get it done. We never have to take on God’s work in our own strength. He won’t ask us to do anything that He will not enable us to carry out. God is committed to equipping us to do whatever He asks. Let’s say yes, and join in His work.
No comments:
Post a Comment