The Gospel in Exodus: The Man God Uses

When God calls Moses at the burning bush, Moses objects, giving reasons why he is not the one for this mission. We often do the same when God calls us to a mission. Who is the man God calls? What is God looking for in a man before He calls him to a mission? Do we have to be special in some way? Do we need to be self-confident, brave, and daring to get a call from God? Do we need to have specific skills that God can use? Maybe so. But more often than not, God calls ordinary people, like you and me. Today we are looking at the call of Moses, to learn more about the man God uses to accomplish His purposes.

“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”” (Exodus 3:10-12)

“Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”” (Exodus 3:13-14)

“Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”” (Exodus 4:1-5)

“Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”” (Exodus 4:10-13)

Moses has four primary objections – who am I, who are You, what if they don’t believe me, and I am terrible at public speaking. God answers all of Moses’ objections, assuring him that the mission will be successful. It is interesting to note that our objections to service when God calls us have not changed much. We often have the same objections that Moses had.

Who am I to talk to that person about God. What if they don’t believe in God? What if they don’t believe me and I look like a fool, become ostracized. I am not good at public speaking, at sharing my faith, at teaching. When God calls us we often have objections just like Moses had.

We learn from this that it is normal to feel this way. Even Moses felt this way, and yet God used Him. God calls ordinary people, like you and me, to accomplish His purposes. We often have doubts just like Moses did, doubting ourself, doubting God, doubting that others will listen to us and believe us, doubting that we have the skills needed to for the mission. But God says He will be with us. In Matthew chapter 28 we read:

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus tells us that He will be with us, just as God told Moses that He would be with him. In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be with our mouth, just as God told Moses that He would be with Moses’ mouth:

“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matthew 10:19-20)

We have the same promise that Moses had, that God will give us the words we are to speak.

We also have the miracle of our changed life as evidence that God has truly shown up in our lives. People who knew me before I was born again cannot believe I am the same person that they grew up with – God has changed me that much. The power of God transforms us by the renewing of our minds when we are born again – it is truly miraculous.

And just as God brought Aaron to Moses to help him with the mission, God also brings people into our lives to help us with the things we may not be so good at. He does this to embolden us and help us step out of our comfort zone. It is the safety in numbers effect in a way. God knows that we are braver when we walk with another.

So who does God call? Do we have to be special to be called by God, to be used by Him? Who does God Call? God is calling you. God is calling me. He is calling us just as we are. Calling us to step out in faith and perform the mission He has for us. He is not looking for William Wallace, he is looking for plain ordinary people like you and me, to bring deliverance to the people around us, by sharing God’s truth with them. He will be with us, giving us the words to speak, working miracles in our lives, and bringing us brothers who will walk with us on the journey and help us complete our mission.

What are some of the things that God is calling you to do? What is your mission with your family right now? At work? With your friend group? What are some other missions God is calling you to today?

What miracles has God worked in your life? Name five ways that you are different today because you have been born again? What has God done lately in your life? What has He done this year in your life? This month? This week?

Think of a time that God gave you the words to speak. What were they? Who were the words for? How did it change their life? Who has God used you to speak to recently? Who is someone that God is calling you to speak to today?

Who are the people that God has brought into your life to support you, like Aaron supported Moses? Who does God use to encourage you in your walk with Him? Who are you supporting in their walk with God? Who can you be an Aaron to this week?

The man that God calls is usually an ordinary man, going about his business. He is a man that has fears and doubts, just like we do. He is a man that does not feel worthy, a man who does not believe that he has the skills needed to accomplish the mission God has called him to. God is calling each of us to go on mission and accomplish His purposes in our family, our workplace, our friend group, our community, our world. God is calling you. Will you answer His call?

Lord Jesus, I come before you today and I answer Your call on my life. Be with me as You promise in Your word. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would give me the words to speak. Transform me by the renewing of my mind, working miracles in my life, that others may see it and believe in You. Bring me brothers to walk with me on my journey with You, and help me to be a godly brother to those around me. Show me who I can be an Aaron to this week. Bring me to someone that I can share Your truth with today. Use me to accomplish Your purposes in the world, and to establish Your kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven. I pray these things in Jesus name, amen.

“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.“ (Ephesians 4:20-25)