September 23rd - Exodus 4:10

Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

Exodus 4:10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord: “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” I feel a bit sorry for Moses. I have often heard people suggesting that Moses was just looking for excuses to turn down God’s job offer. However, Moses’ reply to God sounds to me like a perfectly reasonable objection. He clearly had significant problems with speaking and this would, it seems to me, make him a far from ideal candidate for a job that would be all about effective communication. But God was having none of it. He had decided that Moses was the man for the job and no objections, however substantial, were going to cause him to change his mind. When God chooses someone to work for him, he equips them with the ability to do it. In the New Testament we are introduced to Peter who, throughout Jesus’ ministry, consistently blundered with his words. Time and again we wince at his foolishness, and we squirm with embarrassment at the memory of his repeated denials that he knew Jesus. If you were looking to appoint a communications officer straight after Jesus’ ascension I can’t imagine that Peter would have been your preferred candidate! Surely, he was bound to make a mess of it. But look at what happened. On the Day of Pentecost Peter spoke with power and clarity and the outcome was that over 3,000 people became followers of Jesus that day. And that was no flash in the pan. Peter became the principal leader of the church in Jerusalem and finally died for his faith. God knew exactly what he was doing when he called Moses and Peter. On the face of it they seemed unsuitable for the roles to which God called them, but in an amazing way the Lord enabled them to be incredibly effective in their work for him. That should be a great encouragement for us all. When God calls us to work for him he will equip us. Question In what ways has God equipped you to do his work? Prayer Lord God, thank you that you promise to equip me to do whatever you call me to do. Amen