Exodus 4 - 6.17.26

Scripture: Exodus 4:10-13

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, 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.”

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Observation

God had literally just finished giving Moses a preview of His power. He showed Moses the miracles He was going to perform in front of Pharoah – He changed the staff into a snake and back into a staff, and He made Moses’ hand leprous and then restored it to health. Moses stood there in God’s presence, experiencing the power of God. And then he told that very same God that in spite of His power and His promise to empower Moses, He wouldn’t be able to use Moses to accomplish his purposes.

Application

Moses’ reaction seems incomprehensible. Can you imagine God performing miracles right in front of you and then not trusting Him to do what He promised? In other words – God, you might be able to change a piece of wood into a snake and heal leprosy, but you wouldn’t be able to give me the right words to say. His lack of faith!

But unfortunately, I see parallels with my own life. God has performed miracles in my life and kept His promises. And still, many times, I am too scared to share about what He’s done for me with others. In those instances, I am more worried about what other people think of me that what God thinks of me. Verse 14 says, “Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses …” Moses ended up getting his way, God used someone else. But it doesn’t say at what cost – what blessing did Moses miss out on because of that lack of faith?

Prayer

God, thank you for giving us such a clear example in today’s reading – so clear that it seems ridiculous when I let my irrational fears win out over faith. Please forgive me and continue to strengthen my faith. And thank you for your redeeming love – that you can and will continue to use us (like you used Moses), in spite of our fears, failings, and shortcomings. Amen

- Debbie Dunn