As I read the first few chapters of Exodus and came upon this portion: "Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." -- 4:10 it occurred to me how unbelievably impossible this would be for anyone except perhaps a 'sales person'!Put yourself in Moses' place. You are out tending your flock of sheep and all of a sudden in the middle of the desert a bush spontaneously combusted; but not just catches fire seems the fire is unable to consume the bush. Then, as Moses approaches out of curiosity he hears a voice tell him to come no closer without removing his slippers because it was holy ground! Okay, heat stroke maybe? Too many days with sheep and no human to talk to?
Then, after this interesting discussion with God, the HOST, Moses learns of a new assignment in life. Imagine if you will the many career changes for Moses. He starts off a Hebrew, raised by the royal Egyptian family. Well educated, a statesman, dual identity with the Egyptian adopted family and his natural Hebrew family. He serves for a time for the Egyptians and then commits a crime and flees his home. His journey takes him into a strange land and he is befriended by a man who so likes Moses he offers Moses a daughter in marriage. So, Moses settles down, gets married, has a family, has a shepherding business and then he has his 'burning bush' experience. Now, his new boss, God, 'I AM', has decided to have Moses use his staff to herd HIS people from captivity to deliverance. But first, he must deliver a personal message to the Pharoah. "Let my people go!"
After Moses hears of his new assignment, like any of us would, he starts breaking down the big picture through a series of perceived challenges which may impede certain success. For instance, on whose authority does Moses make such a demand of Pharoah? Think about it. Moses was asked by God to go to the most powerful man of Egypt and tell him to let his entire foreign work force go with absolutely no compensation, excepting of course his life should he obey! But, frankly, that was not part of the plan. After Moses points out what he is certain is obvious issues to God with God's plan, God addresses them with what in essence is 'no worries'! Moses comes up with his last objection: lack of confidence in his ability to deliver the message.
For many people, speaking before a stranger, especially someone of importance, is difficult enough to do when they have their own agenda. But imagine Moses having no such agenda but now must deliver what will seem a foolish demand and he is just not feeling it. He contends he is unable to speak, to do the message service.
REALITY CHECK: God, in true character, inquires of Moses who made his mouth? His tongue? Who makes blind and deaf and their opposites? Moses concedes God's point, God could make his mouth work and provide the words, no argument there. BUT, perhaps the true impact of the bigger picture begins to take its toll on Moses for he finally begs: "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send." -- 4:13
May I impose upon you, the reader, to just put yourself in Moses' position. During this intercourse between God and Moses, to make a point of the power Moses would go to Pharoah with, he has his shepherd's staff turned into a snake and back to the staff again; and, he is directed to put his hand in the folds of his garment and when he withdrew it found he had leprosy...and then it was healed. Imagine, the burning bush, God's voice, the staff to snake to staff, the hand with leprosy and without, and the instructions to take his shepherd self to see the Pharoah and tell the Pharoah to 'let God's people go!'
What would be going through your mind? How would you respond? This is just the first 4 chapters of Exodus. Exodus, a book filled with so much information, so many examples of faith and obedience to God, of struggle, of disappointment. So very valuable to each of us, every word written in its entirety. Have you read it lately? Why not pick it up and put yourself in Moses' place and determine how you would respond, given his circumstances. We all know how it all turned out but still, he was simply a man and was asked to do mighty things for God! As it began, a reluctant servant but as it continued a more than capable leader and intermediary between God and the Hebrews.
Be ready for your wilderness experience...it all starts with a burning bush, God's voice and an unthinkable request. When it happens, remember: When God gives you a vision, HE will give you the provisions. AMEN!!
