In the Christian faith, many people form ideal images of what kind of people are capable of being used of God. You do not have to read your Bible for long to see that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.The opening chapters of the book of Exodus tell the story of the birth and calling of Moses. Before we get into that, what thoughts come to mind when you think of Moses? Hero of the faith? Leader of the people of Israel? Holy man? All of those would be true, but there was much more to Moses.
Exodus 2 tells of Moses' birth. Joseph has died at this point, and the Pharaoh in power at the time, did not look favorably on the Hebrews. They were multiplying too fast and had become a threat. So he ordered that all of the Hebrew boys be killed at birth. When Moses was born, his mother hid him for three months. When she could no longer hide him, she put him in a basket in the water in the reeds of the river. By the providence of God, Pharaoh's daughter found him when she came to bathe at the river. She had compassion on him, recognizing him as the child of a Hebrew woman. Ironically, she called for a nurse for the baby, and it was Moses' mother.
Then we fast forward to adulthood for Moses. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. He looked around to see if anyone was watching, and he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The Pharaoh heard about this, and wanted to kill Moses. So Moses fled to the land of Midian. He subsequently married Zipporah. Moses, who would become a hero of the faith, a leader of God's people, a holy man, started out as a killer, who had to flee for his own life.
Moses was tending Jethro's flock when an Angel of the Lord appeared to him (Exodus 3). He stood before a bush that was burning, but was not being consumed. God called out to Him from the midst of the bush, "Moses, Moses! Do not draw near this place, Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Moses was rightly afraid and hid his face.
God had seen the oppression of His people in Egypt and was preparing to deliver them. He told Moses He would send him before the Pharaoh in order to deliver the people.
Moses began to object. He said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" God promised His presence with him. Moses asked, "What about when I go to the children of Israel and I say, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said, "I AM WHO I AM . . . I AM has sent me to you."
The questioning continued from Moses (Exodus 4). He said, "but suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.'" God gave Moses miraculous signs to validate his message.
Then Moses said, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant, but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." The Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now, therefore go."
Moses continued, "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send." The Lord told him He would give him Aaron to speak and to help him. So Moses went. God ultimately delivered His people from the bondage in Egypt through the miraculous Red Sea crossing.
God gave Moses the Law, and Moses led the people toward the Promised Land. Because of their disobedience to God, the generation that came out of Egypt had to wander for 40 years in the wilderness and were not permitted to enter the land. The Scripture gives an account of Moses' own disobedience when God told him to speak to a rock at Kadesh and it would yield water for the people. Moses decided to do it his way, and struck the rock instead. The Lord referred to it as unbelief (Numbers 20:12) and Moses was restricted from entering the Promised Land.
So, let's review. Moses killed a man. Then God called him to lead the Hebrews out of bondage. Moses gave every excuse in the book, for which God had an answer for each one. Moses went and did as he was told. God gave Moses the Law and allowed him to see His glory. Then along the way, Moses decided to do it his way, and disobeyed. There were consequences and Moses died only seeing the Promised Land. God buried him. Moses is included in the great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. That is amazing.
Are you ordinary? I know I am. God can use you to do extraordinary things. Stop making excuses and go do what He is calling you to do.
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