Monday, November 22, 2010

What makes you say…?

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.” 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.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”
(Exodus 4:10-13 ESV)

What makes you say, “Send someone else?” Is the job too hard? Too menial? Will someone besides you get the credit? Or are the challenges to huge to overcome; too big for God?

What is your excuse when you hear the clear voice of the Lord? What does the Lord have to provide for you to get you to obey? Maybe Moses simply thought that there would be no glory in obeying God. He didn’t really know Him at this point in his life, right? I mean Moses just came across a burning bush and saw a few miracles. It was definitely shock and awe, but was it enough to get Moses to trust and obey? It doesn’t appear so.

But I know God. At least I like to think so. I’ve had a relationship with Him (though, not a perfect one) for most of my adult life. And there are still times when I say, “send someone else.” I’m comfortable with letting someone else do the heavy lifting for Jesus.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
(Isaiah 6:8 ESV)

So what is it that makes me say, “Here I am send me?”

Moses needed something from God to obey. I’m amazed that God negotiates. Moses is being high maintenance so God gives Moses a few signs. That’s patience. That’s goodness. That’s God. God knows us and wants to be in relationship with us anyway so He, in His Grace and Wisdom, negotiates and gives us what we need to do the task.

But He probably won’t always do it that way. We need to grow up.

Isaiah acts like either a mature believer or simply someone struck by the wonder of God. Isaiah had to get in on whatever it was God was going to do. God tells Isaiah that a message needs to brought and Isaiah says, “send me.”

Before I’d say, “Send me,” I’d have to know what the message is and who I’m carrying it to. Maybe I’m a little more like Jonah than I am like Isaiah. Maybe I love my life the way it is rather than the way it could be.

What makes you say, “Send me.”?
What makes you say, Send someone else, Lord.”?

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