When God asks me to do something, one of two things usually gets in the way. Regrets from the past, or fear of the future.
In Exodus chapter 3 God appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was engulfed in flames but didn’t burn up. It was amazing, he had to go take a closer look.
It was a miracle. If I saw that happen I would be willing to do whatever God asked me to do, right? I mean, this is GOD, and I am seeing first hand what He can do! I would drop everything and serve Him fully…or maybe not. More likely I would hesitate, I would have questions, excuses for why I can’t.
Moses had questions too. He thought God had the wrong guy. He wanted to get out of the task God was trying to assign to him.
He had regrets from the past. “Who am I to do this task?” “Have you seen what a mess I’ve made of my life?”
But Moses protested to God, “who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11
He had fears of the future. “What will everyone say?” “What will everyone think?” “How will I ever be able to complete this task?”
But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” Exodus 3:13
Moses was drawn in by the amazing power of God. But when he got close to the bush, God had a task for him to undertake. This is where his humanity took over, his emotions and insecurities bubbled to the surface and he got stuck behind them.
When we see the power of God we want to get closer to it, to find out more about it. We may even want to be a part of it. But when it gets real, when He asks us to participate in His plan, we, too, are caught in a wave of emotion that can block us from carrying out our purpose.
God’s answer to all of these questions? I AM.
God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14
This is the answer to whatever I need.
Who is going to redeem the mess I’ve made of my life? I AM. Who is going to turn things around? I AM. Who is going to love me now? I AM. Who is going to get me through this next season? I AM. Who is going to show me which way to go? I AM. Who is going to tell me what to do? I AM. Who is going to provide what I need? I AM.
I need strength. I AM your strength. I need courage. I AM your courage. I need wisdom. I AM your wisdom. I need rest. I AM your rest. I need peace. I AM your peace. I need joy. I AM your joy. I need security. I AM your security.
Don’t dwell in the past, God didn’t say I WAS. Don’t fear the future, God didn’t say I WILL BE. Stay in today and rest in the fact that He said I AM.
So good!! My question is, do I/ we really believe in the I AM? Jesus said, count the cost of being my disciple.
So true! He promises to be everything we NEED, but our emotions and our wants often tell us that’s not enough. It takes submission and obedience to really know that He is I AM.
This spoke to my heart. ❤️
AMEN! Thanks for those insights from this important story.
This is so encouraging! Thank you!
Thanks for the reminder that Moses had questions he had to work through when facing a God assignment. Sometimes I forget and think I am the only one.
I love the great I AM’s of God in Scripture and I also loved how you described our humanity… “This is where his humanity took over, his emotions and insecurities bubbled to the surface and he got stuck behind them.” Boy isn’t that the truth! Thanks for sharing this post as a reminder to pull out from behind ourselves and let God equip us for the job!