When God doesn’t take no for an answer

God answered, ‘I will be with you, and when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain. That will be the proof that I have sent you.’

But Moses replied, ‘When I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors sent me to you,” they will ask me, “What is his name?” So what can I tell them?’

God said, ‘I am who I am. You must tell them: “The one who is called I AM has sent me to you.”‘  (verses 12-14)

Read Exodus 3:9-17a

How much more evidence did Moses need? He had the burning bush that was never consumed. He had the voice of God. He was given the name of God. And he was given the commission, power and authority of God. Yet, despite all the evidence, he was still reluctant to go!

It would be very easy to judge Moses here, to see the flaws in the man who became a great person of God. Because, despite what we may have learnt in Sunday school (or at least the impression. we might have got), Moses was definitely a very human human being. But, surely, after all he had seen, surely he would trust God.

Well, would we trust him in a situation like that? Do we?

Moses was just like us. That means that he too was full of doubts, lacked confidence, felt he wasn’t up to the challenge God was giving him. Just like you and me. And yet God, working through him, used him mightily.

Just as he will use you and me too.

Father, when you want to use me to do your work here on earth, please don’t take no for an answer. Amen.

Devotion by Robert Turnbull from “Renewed Hope for each day” (LCA, Openbook Publishers, 2000)

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