GOD WILL NOT CALL US WITHOUT EMPOWERING US FOR HIS WORK
__________________________________________________
God doesn’t work through us because we’re flawless; rather, He works through us in spite of our imperfections. – A.W. Tozer –
Perhaps God has placed a calling on your life… yet your doubts and fears cause you to be reluctant. Or maybe you believe that He would never ask of you a task so noble, so lofty for the kingdom. We make excuses when we do not feel worthy of God’s calling… when self-doubt creeps in. It may be outside our comfort zone… or beyond our perceived abilities.
We need to remember that God will not send us out without fully equipping us for His mission. He will empower us for His work. For only what is done in His power will count for eternity. When we are weak, He is strong. His strength is made manifest in us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Moses, the iconic leader and prophet of the Old Testament, performed miracle upon miracle by God’s mighty power. Yet he was not without doubts and questions, even when personally called by the God of Israel.
While shepherding in the wilderness, God calls to Moses from within a burning bush…
‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ – Exodus 3:4
I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. – v. 6
Moses hides his face, afraid to look at his holy God…
Go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt. – v. 10
Moses questions his worthiness for the monumental task God is asking of him…
Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? – v. 11
God, ever patient with those He loves, assures Moses…
I will be with you. – v. 12
Moses worries that he may not have all the answers…
Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them? – v. 13
God guides Moses to say…
I AM has sent me to you. – v. 14
“I AM” is the name of Yahweh God, the one true God of the Israelites. He will provide all the answers Moses will ever need. Yet Moses wonders if he has the credentials for the job…
What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’? – Exodus 4:1
God gives Moses the power to perform three mighty miracles as proof of his qualifications. Again, Moses questions God… whether he can command the people with his words…
Pardon Your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent. – v. 10
God reminds him…
Who gave human beings their mouths?… I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. – v. 11-12
Moses makes one last, desperate plea…
Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else. – v. 13
God tires of his arguments. He does not revoke Moses’ calling, for He knows the dynamic leader that this prophet will become. Yet He does promise to bring his brother Aaron alongside him to speak on his behalf. Moses learns to tap into God”s power to fulfill the calling on his life… to successfully command the Israelite nation.
We go astray when we attempt to do spiritual work without spiritual power. – A.W. Tozer
When we question our worthiness, our knowledge, our abilities, our qualifications for God’s calling on our lives, we can remember what He promised Moses. The great I AM will be with us. Our omnipotent God is our worth. In Him, we have all we could ever need.
God never calls without empowering and equipping. If we are trying to do His work in our own power, it may succeed… yet it will not glorify Him or achieve His eternal purpose. Anything done in our power will fall short. Anything done in His power will far surpass our abilities. We will be tapping into the divine source… the power that raised Christ from the dead!
The God who calls us sees not who we are but who we can become. We need to see ourselves from His point of view. Our calling is not about us… it is about God. He has a divine purpose. He gives us the privilege of participating with Him in bringing it to pass. We ought not to miss such an opportunity.
† Eternal Takeaway – Only what is done in God’s power will count for eternity †
