READ: Exodus 3-4 / Psalm 33
Verse
chosen for meditation: Exodus 3:9-11
9 And now, behold, the
cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression
with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to
Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the
children of Israel out of Egypt?”
REFLECT
This
chapter presents one of Scripture’s most famous encounters: Moses and the
burning bush. Here, God reveals his compassion and love for the oppressed, identifying
with their suffering and setting out a plan to liberate them. This plan
involves Moses, chosen to be God’s instrument to lead Israel into the promised
land. What was Moses’ response to the call? Honour? Celebration? None of those.
Instead, it was one of escape and worry, as he came out with the first of his
many excuses. Despite several assurances from God (including some of the coolest
displays of supernatural power), Moses continued to object, doubt, and shirk
responsibility until God convinces him to obey.
These
are Moses’ excuses:
1) Who
am I? I’m not qualified. (Exodus 3:11)
2) I’m
not knowledgeable enough. I don’t know how to answer their questions. (Exodus 3:13)
3) People
will not believe me. (Exodus 4:1)
4) I’m
a lousy speaker. (Exodus 4:10)
5) Final
plea: Find someone else. Anyone but me! (Exodus 4:13)
RELATE
Familiar
lines? How many of the above have we uttered before when being called,
especially to needs beyond our comfort zones? That’s not to say that our
reasons are always excuses. Sometimes they are valid. Not all requests to serve
are God’s calling for us, so the last thing we want is to be guilt-trip into
serving. However, if we examine our hearts honestly, how much of it is due to
our own escape from God, and unwillingness to adjust our comfortable lifestyles.
In citing many reasons, we convince ourselves that it is not due to a lack of
heart, but a lack of time, resources and that others can do it better. We have
decided everything already, all on our own, with our own worldview. No room to
find out what God wants and bask in his mind-blowing way of choosing people.
Those
close to me will know truly how lazy and laidback I am, in my original nature, quite
opposite of what some who worked with me may think: driven, hardworking,
passionate. It's funny how in my journey, I make many decisions and attempts to
live a chill, comfortable life, staying far away from responsibilities, only for
God to consistently lead me back to where I’m escaping from. I felt like a Jonah.
It came to a point where I defiantly asked God: What games are you playing? Is
this funny to you? Why me? Why not that lad? How is this fair? Through these brash
but honest confrontations with God, He guided me from a mindset of comparing my
circumstances with others, always lamenting about fairness, to one of asking
why am I put in that situation by God and what He wants me there for?
One
of the things that turned it around for me is realising that God does not
simply call people for his whims and pleasure, but always for a compassionate,
loving purpose, to help those in need, with no means of helping themselves.
Verse 9 is proof of a compassionate, loving God who always looks out for us. When
God puts it clearly to you how blessed you have been, how much you’re able to
give, and how much others do not have, it becomes hard to ignore. To hammer in
this point, I see how the very people I’m reaching out to in the social
concerns scene, put me to shame, with their generous giving (time, energy and
possessions), though less privileged than me.
There
is also the assurance that God will be there with me, like what God told Moses
after his 1st excuse (Exodus 3:12). We counter with “Who am I to…”
when the real question we should be asking is “Who is God”? We are then brought
to a humbling, yet burden-lifting truth that it is not by our power, but God’s
power that enables things. If it is indeed God’s call, He will equip us with
the skills, put the words required in our mouths, and provide the necessary people
to help us. It is inevitable, a sure bet, as He will not sabotage His own plans!
I will not discount my fears still prevalent today when He calls, and there may
yet be tough times in answering those calls, but I no longer want to escape as
I’ve come to experience the immense joy and honour in partnering our God in
ministry, enough to overcome my lazy nature.
REST
Father,
before I open my mouth to pour out my fears, you already know them inside out.
Yet, you still have a plan for me and will be with me, making my fears
irrelevant. Help me then in my wrestling, between my fears and faith in your
providence, between my own selfish desires and doing your will.
Chris Chong
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