20. Providence

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exo 3:11)

Regrettably Moses, the friend of God was human like the rest of us. His reaction to God’s calling was quite like our own. Who am I? That is a question we are both asked and ask ourselves when faced with a responsibility. When we read this we think about all the things that Moses was. He was brought up in the household of the Pharoah. He was a prophecied child. He was chosen by God. Yet, when Moses asked the question these were not the answers that God provided.

He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (Exo 3:12)

The focus is not on who you are. The focus is even not who you are in God. The focus is who is sending us. Is He able? If He is able then our ability doesn’t count for anything. You see, when you have enough, adding to it is only superfluous. Suppose you have invited ten of your friends over for a movie night and you order food and everything. All of your friends start to arrive and comment on how well you have organized everything. One by one almost everyone is impressed at the impromptu party. Then the last friend arrives carrying five boxes of large pizza with him. By that time most of your friends have eaten and are quite full. The pizza is basically wasted. What a shame!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psa 23:5)

We are invited to God’s party. He is making the arrangements. No one is looking at what we are bringing to the table, especially not God. God knows our appetites. He also knows our allergies. You can never be left hungry at His table.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (Joh 6:35)

If God has called you today then do not let your sense of inadequacy hold you back. Do not let your lack of preparation hold you back. Remember the hesitation of Moses?

But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Exo 4:10)

How many of us let our percieved short comings become stumbling blocks in the walk of faith? Moses did not believe in himself. He did not realize that he didn’t need to.

Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exo 4:11-12)

What an assurance that is? We feel envious of Moses when we think that God offered to teach him what to speak. We think Moses had it so easy. It is not so easy for us because we have to think on our own how to share the gospel, how to break the ice so that I don’t come across as a Bible toting hypocrite. We have to walk the thin line of bringing up sin and not offend the sentiment of others. Moses had it so easy. Yes, he had it so easy that he had to walk into the palace in a foreign country where Israel was enslaved and tell the Pharoah that God is threatening them unless they are granted freedom. But while we are forgetting the task before Moses we also forget our own assurance.

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mar 13:11)

The same Providence of God as was for Moses is for us. For we too are called to be friends of God through Jesus our shepherd, our friend. That providence is not just an assurance but also an empowerment.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Php 4:13)