God appeared to Moses – an old murderer, liar, and coward who was doing the lowly job of a shepherd – in a burning bush. He told Moses about His big plan: freeing the Hebrew people from slavery and leading them to land He had promised them they would possess long before. AND then…God said something Moses never saw coming: “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Essentially, God was saying, “I am calling all my people to this great mission and purpose, but I have a SPECIFIC calling for you within it, Moses...I want you to LEAD it. I am sending you to do this. Moses, I am calling YOU to a great mission, purpose, adventure.”

Moses pushed back on God’s calling, like many of us would if called to such a great mission. Specifically, Moses pushed back with 5 reservations. I believe these are the same reservations many of us have when we feel God calling us into something, big or small. Check out Moses’ reservations below and how God responded to each of them.

RESERVATION #1: Who am I?

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”(Exodus 3:11)

GOD’S RESPONSE: I will be with you.

“I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. God qualifies those He calls by being with them.

RESERVATION #2: Who are You, God?

“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”(Exodus 3:13)

GOD’S RESPONSE: I AM Who I AM.

“I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM [Yahweh] has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14)

Believing what God can do begins with knowing who He is.

RESERVATION #3: What about them?

“What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1)

GOD’S RESPONSE: Moses, here are 3 SIGNS. I've got your back. I'll be with you.

God turns Moses’ staff into a snake, then back into a staff. (Exodus 4:2-5)
God tells Moses to put his hand in his cloak. Moses’ hand turns leprous. Moses is instructed to put his hand back into his cloak, and his hand is restored. (Exodus 4:6-7)
Water from the Nile poured on dry ground becomes blood. (Exodus 4:8-9)

God is not looking for us to do great things. He is looking to do great things through us.

RESERVATION #4: I’m not ready.

“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10)

GOD’S RESPONSE: GO anyways.

“Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:11-12)

God doesn’t want us to be ABLE. He wants us to be AVAILABLE. And once we are AVAILABLE, then He will make us ABLE.

RESERVATION #5: Send someone else.

“Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13)

GOD’S RESPONSE: GO! I will send your brother Aaron with you.

“Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.” (Exodus 4:14-15)

God doesn’t call you to do everything, but to do your thing with others.

Conclusion:

Like Moses, we have a choice to make…will we say YES to what God is calling us to do despite our reservations or will we say NO to what God calls us to because of our reservations?

In the end, Moses said YES to God, and God did amazing things in and through him. Followers of Christ…like Moses, God has a great calling and purpose for you! Are you willing to accept His calling and step into it despite your reservations?

Reflect:

Do you want God with you?
Do you know Him?
Is fear of the Lord what guides the decisions you make?
Are you available to God?
Do you want to see God do powerful things through you? Are you trying to do everything by yourself, or are you doing your thing with others?