Ever been surprised in such a manner that you couldn’t
believe it was true? Several people have been utterly and completely
flabbergasted at a small turn of events that affected them in a major way.
We’re not talking about winning a "big red hat" in a contest, or even a gift card to your
favorite restaurant. No, we’re not talking about a winning raffle
or lottery ticket. We are talking about
God knocking on your door and saying to you directly, “Come with me, I have
something for you to do!”
You can delay and hesitate, but really, do you
honestly think that works with God? There was one fellow in the Bible that God
had his eye on for years, and when the time was right, God got his attention in
a warm gentle way. The man was a shepherd in a desolate country far away and
long long ago. As a matter of fact he was tending the flock of his
father-in-law. The flock he was tending was on the far side of the dessert at
Horeb, the mountain of God. You know it as Mount Sinai, which was traditionally
located in the southwest past of the Sinai Peninsula.
This poor
shepherd saw a bush on fire, but something very unusual was happening, the bush
was on fire but it wasn’t being consumed! That wasn’t all; an angel appeared to
him from the flames within the bush! That wasn’t all; the poor shepherd heard
God call his name from within the bush. Twice! God told the shepherd that He
had seen the misery of His people in Egypt and heard their cries for help. God
told the shepherd that He had selected him to go to Pharaoh and bring His
people out of Egypt! Wow – what were the odds of winning that position? It was
one out of a … world of people!
The shepherd wasn’t thrilled to win that coveted
position. In fact, five times he tried to excuse himself from God’s call. But
God didn’t accept any excuses. The shepherd was selected and he “would” carry
out God’s wishes. To calm the shepherd’s fears, God told him, “I will be with
you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you
have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
(Exodus 3)
Moses made excuses because he felt inadequate for the
job God asked him to do. It was natural
for him to feel that way. He was
inadequate all by himself. But God
wasn’t asking Moses to work alone. He
offered resources to help (God himself, Aaron, and the ability to do
miracles). God often calls us to tasks
that seem too difficult, but he doesn’t ask us to do them alone. God offers us his resources just as he did
Moses. We should not hide behind our
inadequacies, as Moses did, but look beyond ourselves and the great resources
God makes available. Then we can allow
God to use our unique contributions.
It is worth repeating.
God told Moses “I will be with you”.
Moses spoke with and saw God personally in a burning bush. You might be asking will God appear to me. Many people in the Bible experienced God in
visible (not necessarily human) form.
Abraham saw the smoking firepot and blazing torch (Genesis 15:17); Jacob
wrestled with a man (Genesis 32:24-29).
When the slaves were freed from Egypt, God led them by pillars of cloud
and fire (Genesis 13:17-22). God made
many appearances through Jesus. Will he
appear to you? All things are possible
with God. As believers in Jesus, we
really do not need to see a physical Jesus.
We are born again by His Spirit and the Holy Spirit that dwells in our
hearts. How much closer can you get to
God? You hear his voice in your
mind. You keep his Word in your heart. You minister to others with his love and
kindness? You lay your hands on the sick
and they recover, in Jesus’ name. There
will be a least one more time that we will see Jesus in the flesh and that will
be at the great Judgment seat of Christ.
At that time believers will see him as he proclaims us not guilty. Not guilty of sin because he can only see his
Holy Spirit in us.
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