MOSES' CONVERSATION WITH GOD AT THE BURNING BUSH--God has an assignment for you.

Has God ever given you an assignment you did not want to accept because of fear? Many people can say yes to this, especially regarding witnessing. We fear ridicule, the inability to answer questions from our listeners, etc. Moses had escaped from Egypt because of a murder he had committed there and had no intentions of returning. But God had an assignment for him there that changed his life forever.   

GOD – Hi, Moses. I have some work for you to do for me. I have children enslaved in Egypt; they are suffering tremendously. I'd like to free and relocate them and relieve their suffering. I am giving them their own land, flowing with milk and honey. I am sending you to the Pharaoh of Egypt; tell him to let my people go. 

 MOSES – You've got to be joking, Lord! The people won't believe me; they will want to know your name. I don't even know how to speak; "I've never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10).

GOD – "Moses, who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" (V11-12).   

MOSES – Please, Lord, I do not want you to help me accomplish this task. Please, Lord, don't; just don't get me involved. I came out of Egypt for a reason; the king has a warrant for my arrest, and I do not want to be seen in that vicinity. "O Lord, send someone else to do it" (V13); someone who has a good reputation, is good at this sort of thing, and is very eloquent. 

Humanly speaking, you might think that this point in this dialogue is when God slaps Moses! But our God does not operate that way. He encourages, supports, and accommodates our inadequacies. Amen! Although His anger burned against Moses, He provided a helper in the person of Aaron, Moses' brother. He said to him, "I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do" (V 15).

However, if we overly try His patience, He might direct us to Jonah to discover possible consequences (see Jonah 1:17). Sometimes, we can be so overwhelmed with fear that the only thing that will suffice for us is to be far removed from a situation. But God has said to us many times, "Fear not, for I am with you" (Joshua 1:9). "I am with you" means "I am with you." Is anything too hard for Him? Of course not!  

He enables those He calls, but let us remember it means things could go differently than we want. If everything went smoothly each time he commissioned us, when would He get to demonstrate His wisdom, power, and strength? Challenges in our lives are opportunities for us to witness His greatness. So don't turn down the Lord's help to accomplish the tasks He calls you to, for He is faithful.