Not Me!

  “But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses…”

(Exodus 4:13–14 ESV)

As believers, we’re called by God into his service. Our service, of course, plays no role in our salvation. We are saved by the grace of God alone, through faith in Jesus. But, as the children of God, we are called into his service, which results from our faith.

We receive this call in two distinct ways. We receive it, as it’s given generally to the church as a whole, to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation and to make disciples of all nations. And we receive it specifically, we receive his call as the Spirit of God gives to us gifts that we are to use in his service, filling a distinct role in the body of Christ.

As noted in my last post, our tendency, when we are called, is to make excuses. Our tendency is to list all of the reasons why we cannot or should not carry out the task assigned to us. What it often comes down to, however, is our unwillingness to do so.

This was the case with Moses, as God called him in Exodus 3, to bring his people out of Egypt. He first listed several excuses. He wouldn’t be able to tell the people God’s name, if asked. They wouldn’t believe him. And he was not a good speaker.

In each case, God provided for his need. He took away each excuse Moses offered. He shared with Moses his name. He gave to Moses miracles or signs he could perform to convince the people that he’d been sent by God. As he assured Moses that, as he made man’s mouth, he would be able to speak.

When all was said and done, however, Moses spoke the words seen above. He asked that God would send someone else. He asked that he might not have to do it.

We, then, see God’s response to Moses. We see that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. We see that it burned against Moses.

Based on this, I believe it’s safe to say that his response to us is the same. What I mean is that God’s anger burns against us, as we refuse to serve him. His anger is kindled against us as we refuse his call. 

This, then, is not something that can be taken lightly. It is clearly sinful. It’s clearly an act of disobedience, it’s an act of rebellion on our part.

Moses’ words and actions also did nothing that led God to revoke his call. God’s call remained. And Moses finally submitted himself to the Lord and departed for Egypt.

Could God find someone else to do what he’s asked of us? He certainly could. But he desires that we, as his people, will honor him by doing what he’s asked.

As we, then, demonstrate an unwillingness to serve, we should recognize it for what it is. We should recognize it as sin, confessing it to the Lord, and trusting in Christ for the forgiveness he provides. And, like Moses, we should embrace his call by serving our neighbor.