Please Send Someone Else (Part 2)

Two weeks ago, we started looking at the excuses Moses gave to avoid doing what God asked him to do. He made five excuses, we’ve looked at two of them, today we’ll consider the third.  But first, let’s look at the level of assurance God gave Moses.

In so many words, God explained exactly what He wanted Moses to do. He told him how to go about it and what the outcome will be. God said to Moses: “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them...I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into…a land flowing with milk and honey. The elders of Israel will listen to you.” (Exodus 3:16-18, NIV). God continued: “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.” (Exodus 3:19-20, NIV).

With all these assuring words, God encouraged Moses. He made it clear that though Moses was to be His representative, He (God) is the real power behind the mission. He also made Moses know that He (God) knows exactly how things will pan out: “And I will make the Egyptians favourably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.” (Exodus 3: 21, NIV). At this stage, you’d expect Moses to say alright God, I am ready to go. But Moses gave another excuse, which started like this – “What if?”.

“What if they do not believe me”?

The all-knowing God had already told Moses exactly what will happen, but Moses said, what if? Behind that question might be a suggestion that God may not have prepared for an eventuality that Moses had foreseen.  If that’s true, can you see how ridiculous it sounds? It is probably more accurate to think that what Moses meant by “what if” is more like, - what do I do if they don’t believe me? In other words, Moses was not insulting God’s intelligence, but questioning his ability, and seeking guidance as to what to do if that scenario manifests. On the evidence of the text, I think it is more that Moses’ was reluctant rather than being presumptuous. As Calvin puts it, “Moses relates in this chapter how hesitatingly he obeyed God, not from stubbornness, but from timidity, for he does not shake off the yoke, as unruly beasts do, but shrinks away from it, that it may not be placed upon him”^*

However, his hesitation is one that is often familiar to us today. When God calls us to do anything for Him, for many, it is okay when everything is plain sailing. When challenges or obstacles present themselves, we tend to shrink back and doubts creep in. There are many still who Calvin says, “in flying from trouble, are so withheld from duty, that they grow hardened in their inactivity… who by their silence only strengthen themselves in the liberty to disobey”. I pray that’s not me, or you.

May we never be those, whose “what ifs” are because we have made God too small in our eyes, such that the problems we face now appears too big for Him to overcome. God forbid. And when our “what ifs” are more because we think ourselves too small, not good enough, not able, may our eyes be opened to see our God in the fullness of His glory.  So that our temporary hesitation, which may have slowed our progress in the face of God’s assurance, will result in bold and courageous acts of obedience that propel us forward to the destiny and future God foretold.

What followed Moses’s “what if” was incredible. God responded with a question. “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. God said, “Throw it on the ground.” He did, and the staff became a snake and he ran from it. “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” When he did, it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers… has appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:2-4, NIV).

God gave the sign not primarily for Moses’ sake, although I have no doubt that it further strengthened his faith, but so the people may believe that God sent him. This shows that God cares about our cares. He answers Moses’ hesitation with a miraculous sign that he (Moses) can show the people. If Moses cast his cares on the LORD, why won’t we? Moses had many questions. God answered them all. Do you have questions? Take them to God in prayer. He will answer.

God turned the ordinary staff in Moses’ hand into a supernatural instrument for the miraculous. It was that same rod that Moses used to part the Red Sea. God is still using ordinary things in our lives to work our extraordinary things. The timid, shy, and fearful Moses later became a mighty prophet, leader and shepherd of God’s people. God will use us too. Like Moses, we need to linger in conversation with Him. We need to be available to do the work He has commanded. (…to be continued)