“Lord, Please Send Someone Else” (Exodus 4:10-17 Devotional)

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Exodus 4:10-17 ESV

While God sees Moses as someone who “was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22).  Moses considered himself “slow of speech and of tongue”. While God sees Moses as the perfect fit to deliver His people out of Egypt, Moses suggested the Lord to better off sending someone else.  Moses lost confidence in himself because of his failures forty years ago. His failure brought him fear when facing this great task commissioned by the God Almighty.  God knows his past failures and understands his fear.  Nevertheless, God still chose Moses.   The burning bush, the revealing of Himself, the three signs seemed to rekindled his heart and started to build up his faith.  Yet at this point, his fear outweighed his faith. He magnified his inadequacy and diminished God’ power.  I can relate to the Moses in this passage in many ways.  I feel inadequate all the time especially when it comes to sharing God’s word and shepherding His little sheep.  I am, too, slow of speech and of tongue. I sometimes also feel that God should have called someone else who could do a better job.  But how precious that Moses’ story and my story don’t end here.   For “the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”. (1 Samuel 16:7). We may look at our own abilities, but God looks at our hearts.  He is always in searching of a willing heart.  Our faith might be little, but our God is great.  He promised to be with Moses and teaches him what he should speak.  Likewise, whatever we think we are in lack of, He will also be with us and provide for us.  He is the great I AM that can supply for our every need.   May God help us to see ourselves with the same eyes He sees us.  He said “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.”  (Song of Songs 4:7)  God does not make mistakes, and thus He wont choose the wrong person.  We may feel weak, broken, or not adequate, but God’s grace is sufficient, and His love never fails. 

Dear Lord, my faith is little but I know you can make good use of it when I put it in your hands. Thank you for loving me and being with me. Help me to see myself just as the way you see me. You chose me to love you and to serve you. You ARE the great I AM that supply for every need I have. Give me the strength and help me to grow my faith in you.

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