Value Recognized
Exodus 3: 1 – 4 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” and Moses said, “Here I am.”
Moses is about to be called into the service of God. God is going to ask him to go back to Egypt and get all the Israelites and lead them out of bondage. Moses however has something to say about this.
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.”
Moses will continue to explain to God that He has the wrong man for the job. He makes excuses that he isn’t thinking that anyone will believe he is really sent by God, or that he isn’t well spoken. God however shows Moses powers that will be given to him so that people will believe. God also promises that He will be with Moses through the entire event.
Exodus 4: 11 – 12 The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”
Scripture tells us that God knew us before we were conceived in our mothers womb. God had a plan for us before we were ever born. We were held from existence until this very day and age. This very moment, we are here for purpose. God designed us for right now.
I’ve had the fortune to travel to Africa. Tanzania is known as the friendly nation, and to visit you find it is true. Africa has unusual sets of circumstances compared to us. Most of the citizens live in poverty. Some of them have experienced illness that has left them mentally unbalanced and because of this they are rejected. I traveled into the bush of Africa to assist in showing the Jesus film. Many people would walk from surrounding villages to see a motion picture. Most had never witnessed such an event. During our bush travels I saw a man who likely was a victim of rejection because of mental illness. He was outside a village living under a tree. He crouched beneath the tree and appeared delirious. A short distance from there a woman in tattered clothes stood off in the distance. She was likely also an outcast. I had to ask God in prayer, “Why Lord have you allowed me to be American, healthy and wealthy compared to these whom you also love?” I didn’t get a booming voice for an answer but I felt confident that the answer was: “Because I trust you to make a difference with what I’ve trusted you with. I’ve designed you as Doug and I have value in what you can do.”
I am not a Moses and only Moses of Exodus can be that Moses. I am Doug and no one can be this Doug. (For this you should be thankful:) My value must be recognized by me, and I must be available for God to use me for what He designed me for. The same value is on all of us. It is even on the man stooped beneath the tree and the woman outside the village. It is irrelevant to social standing or physical appearance. It is not based on who we are, where we live, physical ability or any other issue. Our value is recognized and provided by God. It is up to us on how we regard the call.
Ephesians 2: 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
It is essential to be a child of God. We must next be available to accept the responsibility set before us.
God, Please show us how to respond to your call and give us peace and understanding in how to accomplish all you have planned for us. Not my will Father, but thine be done. Amen
