Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
September 9, 2021
Read Exodus 4:1-17
1 Then Moses replied, “But what if they don’t believe me or pay attention to me? They might say to me, ‘The LORD didn’t appear to you!’” 2 The LORD said to him, “What’s that in your hand?” Moses replied, “A shepherd’s rod.” 3 The LORD said, “Throw it down on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it turned into a snake. Moses jumped back from it. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out and grab the snake by the tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a rod in his hand. 5 “Do this so that they will believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God has in fact appeared to you.” 6 Again, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your coat.” So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took his hand out, his hand had a skin disease flaky like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your coat.” So Moses put his hand back inside his coat. When he took it back out again, the skin of his hand had returned to normal. 8 “If they won’t believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second sign. 9 If they won’t believe even these two signs or pay attention to you, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on dry ground. The water that you take from the Nile will turn into blood on the dry ground.” 10 But Moses said to the LORD, “My Lord, I’ve never been able to speak well, not yesterday, not the day before, and certainly not now since you’ve been talking to your servant. I have a slow mouth and a thick tongue.” 11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who gives people the ability to speak? Who’s responsible for making them unable to speak or hard of hearing, sighted or blind? Isn’t it I, the LORD? 12 Now go! I’ll help you speak, and I’ll teach you what you should say.” 13 But Moses said, “Please, my Lord, just send someone else.” 14 Then the LORD got angry at Moses and said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak very well. He’s on his way out to meet you now, and he’s looking forward to seeing you. 15 Speak to him and tell him what he’s supposed to say. I’ll help both of you speak, and I’ll teach both of you what to do. 16 Aaron will speak for you to the people. He’ll be a spokesperson for you, and you will be like God for him. 17 Take this shepherd’s rod with you too so that you can do the signs.”
Good Morning! I’ll Go where you lead me!
One of the more interesting parts of being human is our ability to make excuses. From my experiences, the more difficult that we perceive the challenge the more we make excuses. Moses is quick to decline God’s calling, but God is having none of it. For every excuse that Moses offers, God supplies the remedy.
It occurred to me that I would like to think about the reason behind our excuses. Why not? Let’s start with a simple scenario: someone asks you to call a list of people and invite them to church, and you respond with a variety of excuses. “I work when it’s a good time to call.” “I don’t have good phone service.” “I’m really busy this week.” Why don’t you really want to call?: Maybe you’re nervous about how people will respond, or maybe you’re worried they will ask you about God. It seems easier to make good excuses than to do what you’re asked.
Now, let’s reconsider Moses’ excuses. What if God were asking you to lead His people? Would you say sure, would you run away and try to hide or would you make excuses? Moses didn’t feel that he had the ability to lead and he had great reasons to offer, but God had other plans for Moses. He asked Moses to trust and believe in Him and He would supply Moses with what he (Moses) needed.
Each of us is called by God to use our unique gifts to serve. How do you respond to God’s calling for you? Do you make excuses? Do you run away kicking and screaming? Do you open your heart and trust God? God will continue to call until we are ready!
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. God, we struggle when You call us. We doubt our own gifts. Thank you for leading us and calling us. With Your love and mercy, we will choose to follow and answer our calling. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God has great plans in store for me.
Trust God! God has a plan! Pastor Liz
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