Moses: Day 9

Thursday, September 9

But...But…But

Moses answered, “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Exodus 4:1-3

Suggested reading: Exodus 4:1-12

After taking a look at all that God told Moses concerning the SUCCESSFUL future deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians, you would think his confidence tank would be filled to the brim. But no, Moses was afraid. He was running away from his own staff-turned-snake, completely forgetting that he was on God’s holy ground.

In yet another attempt to build his confidence, God proves his God-ness by a series of signs:

-God turns the snake back into a staff.

-Moses’ normal hand turns to a leprous hand and then back to a normal hand.

-And finally, God spoke of his ability to turn water from the Nile River into blood.

But…but…but this was still not enough for Moses. He said, 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 (v. 10).

God explained that he was the Maker of mouths as well as ears and eyes! And then he says, Now go, I will help you speak and teach you what to say (v.12).

Thoughts:

When I think about Moses, I am honestly trying to put myself in his shoes. (Oh wait, he’s not wearing any!) Maybe that’s the problem—he’s putting his human shoes back on and leaving the “holy ground/I AM” part out of it. How often do we do the same? I know I do! The slow of speech thing is a big one in my own excuse-booklet.

One of the main points of this study is to answer this question:

What is God calling you to do?

Is there something he has laid on your heart for His name’s sake?

Moses had an ordinary shepherd’s staff in his hand. What do you have in yours? No talent or desire when touched by God can possibly be deemed unworthy or unusable because his glory has invaded it!

After answering the question of what he has called you to do, the main challenge of this study is this:

Will you do it?

Remember what we’ve learned up to this point when you feel the but…but…but’s revving up.

We have come to know and hopefully believe in…

the great I AM

the One Who is With Us

the One Who Goes Before Us

and today, the One Who works mightily in and through us.

We can make excuses, but none of these reasons can stand on holy ground.

Going deeper and sweeter: Isaiah 41:13-14; Jeremiah 32:27; Ephesians 2:10

Dear Lord,

Here I am. On holy ground. What do you want me to do for you? Amen.