Exodus 3:11, 12 – But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “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.”
One certainly can’t blame Moses for settling into the life of a shepherd, tending to the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro. It gave him time to ruminate over the unique twists and turns of his life. And what a life he’d lived! He was born into a slave family in Egypt, and was saved by his mother’s craftiness in hiding him during a time of Hebrew male infant genocide. As a baby, he was discovered in hiding by a daughter of Pharaoh himself, who adopted Moses into the royal family. He was raised in luxury’s lap as an adopted child, yet revolted against his pampered upbringing by murdering a foreman who was beating a Hebrew slave. He escaped his conflicted upbringing, and the price on his head for murder, by escaping to Midian. There he settled, married, and embraced the pastoral life of his father-in-law. There is much to be said for living the uncomplicated life of a sheep herder!
Little did Moses know that his days of respite were numbered. God had other plans, and he announced them in the most unusual way as he called to Moses from a burning bush. One can feel some pity for Moses in his narrative with God. Why go back into the storm of Egypt? Being a spokesperson to end the slavery of the Hebrew people, which had existed for several hundred years, certainly felt like an overwhelming task to Moses. And yet, God promised Moses his presence and protection if Moses “took up the call”.
Being a follower of Jesus certainly isn’t taking taking the easy road in our challenging world today. Through the words of Jesus in scripture, we are tasked with sharing his message of love and forgiveness, with calling out evil and oppression, and with serving the poor and marginalized. In our suffering world, those missions seem overwhelming! Like Moses tasked with ending slavery in Egypt, we want to cry, “Who am I, that I should go?” But … we have the assurance of God almighty that we are not alone. We truly can make a difference one individual at a time. What has God tasked me to do today? Where does he want me to serve?
Dear Lord, may we be ever aware of opportunities to intentionally serve as you have called us. Help us to feel bold and confident, even when our insides are a bit frightened and uncertain.
Have a blessed week!
Diana
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