Overcoming insecurity and a sense of failure

When it was discovered that Moses had murdered an Egyptian he ran for his life to Midian, a distance of at least two hundred miles. Many years later God called to Moses from a burning bush and told him: ‘I have seen the misery of My people in Egypt, have heard them crying out because of their slavery, and am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them’ (Exodus 3:7-8).

Having felt for his own people as they were suffering at the hands of the Egyptians, this must have encouraged Moses immensely. But he was completely unprepared for what the LORD said next. He was not prepared when God commissioned him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Moses was to go to Pharaoh and ask him to release the people to go for a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD God. Even though God promised to be with him when he did this Moses became panicky, and presented all the reasons why he thought he was unsuitable for the task.

With miraculous signs God tried to convince Moses that He was with him and would help him. Yet Moses still argued that he was unsuited for the task, to the point that God ‘s anger was roused (Exodus 4:14).

Have you ever had the experience when you have felt God speaking to you and showing you a task He wanted you to undertake for Him, but you felt totally unsuitable? When God called me to leave secular employment and train to be a pastor I was convinced He’d got the wrong man, and, like Moses, could give reasons for being unsuitable and even thought of other people who were more gifted for that task. It was only through responding in obedience that I learned how God is able to do what He’s planned. He’s able to reach and save lost souls, deliver bound people and heal the sick. These were the very things I had read of Jesus and His disciples doing, and questioned why such things were not happening in the Churches today.

It’s wonderful how God chooses and uses ordinary people like us to do extraordinary things for Him by the power of His Holy Spirit working in and through us. As we consider the way God used Moses, during the next forty years of his life, to bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land, we have an example of how God fulfils His plans. This is possible when those He calls are obedient to His call and His guidance.
As we progress into this New Year, may we carefully listen for God, respond willingly in obedience to Him, and look on in amazement as we see Him do extraordinary things through ordinary individuals like us.

Prayer: O Lord God, I am sorry, and ask You to forgive me for those times when I have not listened to You, and let You down by doing things in my own strength. Please help me to listen more attentively to You when You speak, and respond obediently to Your instructions, I pray, in Jesus Name. Amen.