Who God Can Use - Audio
Summary - As Moses questions God at length about how God's plan can possibly work, and how he, as an exiled old man, can pull this off. Most of the questions center around the qualifications and ability of Moses. Yahweh is the answer to every question! Moses is not qualified, nor does he possess the skills that it will take, but that does not matter because Yahweh will do it through Moses. What is needed is not the right qualifications, but the powerful presence of God who can and will accomplish all His plans! Yahweh is the one who will do the convincing - both the Elders of Israel as well as Pharaoh himself - through powerful signs and wonders. In the same way, it is God who will put the words in Moses (and Aaron's) mouth, so that it does not require any eloquence or talent on Moses part. All that Moses needs is God. Everything that Moses lacks is supplied in the I AM, who has pledged His constant presence and help for Moses.
Thus, God is not looking for someone with impressive skills and abilities, rather He is looking for one who is willing and available. When it comes down to it - that is the real issue facing Moses. Not - "Do I have what it takes," but rather, "Am I willing to trust God and laydown my life for Him and for His work?" The question is not "is Moses qualified," but rather "is he available!" God can overcome all our shortcomings and lack of qualifications, but what is to be done when we are unwilling to surrender all to God and entrust Him with our life? When one will not yield his/her agenda to God's, to subject their Will to His purpose and plans? In the end, of course Moses does yield his life to God and does what God commands, but it is not easy. It is a struggle for Moses, and he does not yield immediately. The result of his reluctance is that he stirs up God's anger, which is never a good thing! When God's anger is kindled against someone it usually ends badly. But, we see here also a picture of the patience and grace of God, who does not destroy Moses, but sends him help and encouragement so that, in the end, he is able to trust God and lay down his life, just as he had laid down his staff.
As we reflect on the meaning of this passage for our own life, four important questions come to mind 1) what is God calling me to do in service to Him? 2) Do I have absolute confidence that He is all I need to accomplish all that He has called me to do? 3) am I laying down my life, placing it all in His hands to use as He pleases, to control and direct according to His purpose and plans? 4) do I recognize how my reluctance to trust Him and to yield my life to His will is a serious sin that grieves the Spirit and results in His anger?
Praise God that He is indeed a God of great patience and grace! He has indeed provided all that we need to serve Him, most importantly being the means to divert His wrath and obtain grace and forgiveness for our stubbornness and disobedience!