By Kenneth B.E. Roxburgh, Ph.D.
Professor of Religion, Samford University
Objections Overruled
Exodus 3:11–12; 4:10–17
The book of Exodus is a story about a relationship between God and His people. In the story of Israel, we see our own story. In their pilgrimage of faith and obedience, we see our own walk with God. The story of Moses offers us a word of comfort and challenge concerning our own confidence in God’s promises and our commitment to His purposes.
God is with you. (3:11–12)
Yet the call of God requires a response. Initially when God reveals Himself to Moses, Moses is reluctant to obey. Moses speaks about his own inadequacy to fulfill the task that God has assigned him. So the Lord assures Moses of His presence, saying, “I will be with you.”
God takes the initiative in revealing Himself to Moses. In the end, He does so because He has chosen not only to use Moses, but also to need Moses to be His instrument in and through whom He will work. What is interesting here is that God chose a mountain in the wilderness named Horeb, far removed from the sights and sounds of the religious community. There is no temple nearby, no indication that this is a “holy place.”
Moses is on an everyday journey with no “religious intention.” I think it’s wonderful the way in which the whole of life is so sacred to God that He can meet with us in the everyday occurrences of life — indeed in the mundane and ordinary places. God uses ordinary people in ordinary locations to do an extraordinary work for Him.
God created you just as you are. (4:10–12)
Moses argues with God. He tries to wriggle out of God’s call on his life by claiming to be unable to speak. Yet here is a man who has been raised in Egypt to be well educated, to be trained in eloquent speaking in Pharaoh’s household. Therefore, his attitude is probably one of disobedience. Nonetheless, as Moses goes on and on and on about his inadequacy, God is very gracious — gentle but firm. God encourages Moses to commit himself into the purposes of God, having the confidence that God’s promises will provide for all Moses’ needs.
To know that — despite our sin and our lack of ability — God can use us is one of the greatest blessings as a Christian. God uses us. He knows all about us. He created us and He believes there is a “work for Jesus none but you can do.”
God equips you with all you need. (4:13–17)
Moses takes every opportunity to dodge the call of God. Moses speaks of his own ignorance and the fact that he didn’t know anything. It’s almost as if the Lord says to Moses, “Well you’ve come to the right person. I can meet you in all of your need with all of my grace.”
We need to be willing to come to the point in our lives that we will gladly, for the sake of Christ, give up anything that hinders us from following Him. It may be our possessions, pleasure, position, prestige and so on. Whatever the reason, we stop short of positively giving our time and our talents into the service of the Savior. Christian discipleship is not a negative; it is a positive attitude and action of devoting our lives to the call of God and committing all that we are and have in order to be available to Him. As the hymn says so well:
“Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord, to Thee
Take my moments, take my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
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