Moses' Calling

For me, the story of Moses is one of the most dramatic and powerful in the Old Testament.  Not because Moses was such a hero - in fact, the way I read it Moses was a scared, angry murderer on the run. It’s one of my favorite stories because God used Moses anyway.  When He first let Moses know what he had in mind for him, Moses basically told God "I’m sorry but I’m not the man for the job, please send someone else." It is stated that God was angry.

This is the fun part for me:  God could have destroyed him on the spot. He could have found someone else. He could have reminded him how he has provided for and protected him from his earliest days of floating the river until now. He could have even comforted and encouraged him by telling him how great he is going to be. God doesn’t do any of these. He instead tells Moses who He himself is.  He lets him know it’s not about Moses’ character, talents or power at all. It is all about His. He is the “I AM”. He created Moses. He knew about his speech impediment.  He knew about his fear.  He knew he didn’t have a Masters of Theology degree.  Still, He chose Moses to lead His people.  He provided the tools he would need.  He even allowed his brother, Aaron, to walk alongside him to be the mouthpiece and fill in the gap.

Studying Moses’ story makes my heart pound, and not just because of the dramatic burning bush, the Ten Commandments, the trauma of plagues, or the astonishing crossing of the Red Sea. It's because this is one of many examples that God doesn’t just allow, but chooses less than perfect, scared people with a past for His kingdom work.  That says to me that I fit right in and that God has put me here for a reason. 

- Cheryl Proctor