The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:11-12)
Moses was not a natural leader. He was adopted and raised as Pharaoh’s daughter’s son, living in comfort and luxury. Instead of facing the consequence of killing an Egyptian who was beating a slave, he ran away to Midian. During his self-imposed exile in Midian, he lived a modest lifestyle shepherding his father-in-law’s flocks. You can easily imagine Moses’ shock when the God of his ancestors speaks directly to him (via a burning bush) and calls him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
In today’s passage, you can see an example of prayer as a dialogue. God speaks to Moses through a burning bush. In return, Moses responds and engages in a conversation with God. Does your prayer life seem conversational? Very often our prayers may seem like we are repeating a list of items back to God. But, as today’s reading and other passages (especially in the Psalms) show, prayer is much more than that. You may be asking, “How can I have conversations with God, if I can’t hear his voice?” “How can I know what he wants me to do?” Thankfully, God has provided us his Word, the Bible, as his primary means to speak to us today.
In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul writes that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may he complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Scripture clearly reveals what God’s will is for our lives. Since the Bible ultimately comes from God himself, you can be confident that all the promises will be kept and that all the commands are for your own good and flourishing, including the Great Commission.
For many of us, sharing the Gospel is not our strong suit. Perhaps like Moses, you may feel you are not a great speaker (4:10). You may relate with Gideon, that you believe you’re not qualified enough for the task (Judges 6:15). But regardless of their own perceived shortcomings, Moses and Gideon are highly regarded for their faith as God’s servants (Hebrews 11). They were able to fulfill their calling not because of their own abilities, but only by the grace of God.
In Exodus 4:11-12, God tells Moses that he will teach him what to say before Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Similarly in the present day, when God calls Christians to do something, he promises that he will always help us. Like Moses, you can boldly voice your concerns to God and at the same time trust that he will guide you. Our God is trustworthy and will never leave or forsake us. Don’t let your fears, uncertainties, and weaknesses keep you from pursuing God’s calling for your life. His strength is made perfect in your weakness.