One day Charlie Brown was talking to his friend Linus about the Pervasive sense of inadequacy he feels all the time. Charlie moaned, “You see, Linus, it goes all the way back to the beginning. The moment I was born and set foot on the stage of life they took one look at me and said, “Not right for the part.” (Peanuts)
When God called Moses’ name from the burning bush with a job for him, Moses had a true identity crises. Despite the fact that from the moment of his birth, God was setting him aside and preparing him for this exact moment of history, when God called his name, Moses questioned God and said, “Who am I that I should go?” As we read Moses’ story in the Bible, we might look at his life from the moment he was placed in the basket and set in the river to save his life to Pharaoh’s daughter discovering him and raising him as his own child to growing up in the palace to learn court etiquette and Egyptian government and politics, to the burning bush experience and see God preparing Moses for the task of leading the Israelites out of slavery. At one point, Moses gets ahead of God’s plan and he kills and Egyptian who is abusing an Israelite, causing him to flee for his life. Perhaps this was the moment in his life that caused him to ask God this question. He knew he messed up and now, why would God choose him?
When God calls us to a task, don’t we often ask the same question? “Who am I that you would send me?” We start listing our perceived failures and telling God all the reasons that He should choose someone else. We never stop to take the time to look back in our lives on those very experiences that were “failures” to see how God might have been growing and equipping us for just this moment. If the God of the universe and the creator of the world who is omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful) is calling your name, then He certainly knows your failures, your strengths, your weaknesses…and they all perfectly in line for the task to which He is calling you. So change your question: “Who am I that you would send me?” to a statement: “Here I am Lord, send me!”
Have you seen Julie’s new book: God, Love and Marshmallow Wars? This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.)
Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 events. Book with us now.
