“Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:12 ESV).
God rebuked Moses for saying he couldn’t obey God’s call because he wasn’t an eloquent speaker. “Who has made man’s mouth?” God asked him. The Lord wanted to move Moses’ perspective from his own abilities to God’s. God promised to provide the words and the eloquence he needed if only he would obey the call.
Yet, Moses still balked at God’s call saying, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Moses had made many excuses for why he was the wrong man for the job, but finally he admitted the real sticking point–– he didn’t want to do it. After all, Moses was 80 years old and was comfortable in his role of shepherding his father-in-law’s flocks. Surely God could call someone else, someone younger, someone more qualified than he.
But God was insistent and Moses finally obeyed. And God raised him up to be one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history. Moses learned that whom God calls, He also enables. For God doesn’t care about our ability, but our availability. God says, “Go and I will be with your mouth. I will give you the ability to speak for Me.”
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to be obedient to whatever You ask of us. Help us to overcome our fears and our feelings of inadequacy. For with You all things are possible. We are Your servants. Strengthen us to do whatever You have planned for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.