Monday, February 1, 2010

But…


Exodus 4:10 – 13

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words, I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled." Then the Lord asked Moses, "Who makes a mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak and I will instruct you in what to say." But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send anyone else."

I've always studied these verses. Mostly, because I feel a lot like Moses did. I don't like speaking out at times, but feel called to share what God is doing in my life.

This morning it hit me in a different way throughout these passages Moses, kept saying but, but, but…excuse after excuse and he was chosen by God. How often do we continue to say but God…like he doesn't already know all the pieces to the puzzle. I am continually amazed that we or maybe it is just me that I might help God out by pointing out one point He might has missed.


 

Reading this morning God already knew that Moses was not great speaking. He already knew that he had a tendency to get tongue tied and the words tangled, but He reminded Moses without just screaming at him…I made you Moses, I will give the words, I will do the speaking …it is not you. It is ME…the great I AM WHO I AM…

Does anyone else realize how full of excuses we are to God? I can't do that God, I'm busy, I can't do that God, I'm not good at it and the whole time it's not us anyway it's HIM! He wants to use people broken, people limping, people crying, people that other people know are so less than so it makes an impact on others. Think back over your journey who did God use to speak to you? Was it someone perfect or someone broken? Was it someone willing to speak even though you could tell it wasn't easy it was difficult? Was it someone that just listened and followed what the great I AM told them to do?

Don't miss out when God instructs you with the BUT I CAN'T, because it isn't you anyway it is the GREAT I AM!

Following His Mighty Lead,

Debbie

4 comments:

Frankie said...

Debbie, I am so excited about the reading today from Exodus. First of all, I am just thinking about the fact that Moses is from the Levite tribe. I knew that Aaron was a priest. This is the tribe that Israel's priests came from, but I am now thinking in terms of Moses being priestly also.

And then Moses was a shepherd when God spoke to him in the wilderness. The lowly shepherd that was despised by other cultures was the person that God used to lead His people out of Egypt. This also reminded me of David. He was a shepherd when he was told that he would be the King of Israel. And of course there is the Good Shepherd, the One who tends to us.

In Exodus 3:11, Moses says, "Who am I to appear...and then he says, Who am I to lead...." When Moses says, who am I, God says, I Am. That is all we need to know when we say, who am I to do this or say that for YOU, Lord. The Lord says it is not about who you are, it is about WHO I AM. Yes, He is the GREAT I AM!

Bill's Friend said...

Frankie, I enjoyed your insight on the shepherds and the reminder that Moses and Aaron were from the Levite tribe.

Debbie, that's one of my favorite verses. It SO speaks to me!!..

From someone who has struggled with anxiety issues, to the point of sometimes having panic attacks, I can feel what Moses is saying. But Lord, I'm not a speaker. Please don't ask me to speak in front of these people. It's my very worst thing. Lord... I, for years and years, struggled with speaking to people, and speaking to several people made it even worse. I cannot explain into words how bad my nervousness was. I prayed and prayed that God would help me with my anxiety; He did. I now take medicine for it....

Lord, thank you for helping me overcome my nervousness. Thank you for allowing me to lead small Bible studies. I can be a speaker... But, only with YOUR help! Amen.

Frankie said...

Hey Dubberly Chick, I can relate to your anxiety with talking to people and Moses' pleading for God to use someone else. Talking seems to come so easy for some people and yet produce such anxiety in others like myself. In the Bible we see that God always used the least likely and the one with flaws.

Lord, thank you for The Dubblerly Chick and her willingness to be used by You to lead Bible Studies. She can be a speaker with Your help. You are the God who helps us overcome! Amen

Bill's Friend said...

Thank you Frankie! It's always good to hear from others who can relate to your on struggles... And you are so right. When I talk, or speak, in front of people, I know it's not from me. It's from OUR LORD!! And yes, He does "use the least likely," so we will know that it came from Him!!... Thank You God for all of our afflictions because when we overcome one of them, we know it was You!!!...