Often, when tragedy happens or we are in a difficult spot, we may question God. God, why did this happen? Lord, what good could possibly come from this? Lord, you took her home to be with You when we needed her. Maybe you have experienced this in your life.
We don’t always understand what God is doing. Often things don’t work out the way we think they should. The Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:8” My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” [1]
The good news is we can take our questions to God. We can cry out to God and pour out our heart to Him like many people did in the Psalms. On this side of eternity, we may never understand or receive an answer from God. All we can do is move forward and place our trust in God and stand on His word. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”[2]
In our story, God was asking Moses to do something he did not think he was capable of. He didn’t understand why God would ask him to do such a thing.
Exodus 3:9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you.
And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations. [3]
God saw something in Moses that he did not see in himself. God saw who Moses as who he would become not who he was at that point. God does the same with us. God in His infinite wisdom knows the good things we are capable of because He made us.
Another example is the call of Peter. Luke 5:8Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon.10–11 Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.[4]
Peter saw his sinful self, but Jesus saw a man who would be a fisher of people. This is what Jesus also sees in you. Take the hand of your loving Savior and be encouraged as He leads you into something you never thought was possible.
To hear the story of the call of Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/the-call-of-moses
[1,2,3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Lk 5:8–11). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.