Exodus 4:10-13 (English Standard Version)
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.” 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? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

“Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Can you blame Moses for asking this of God? Moses has managed to create a good life out in the fields of Midian. He has a wife and a child. He has a job caring for his father-in-law’s animals. Everything seemed just fine and under control.

Then God suddenly appears, speaking out of a burning bush, telling Moses to leave it all behind, to go back to Egypt, and to speak with Pharaoh.

“Oh, my Lord, please send someone else!”

How often have we said, or at least felt, those words?

Feeling called to offer a small group for people struggling with the aftermath of a divorce? Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. Visit a dying person in the hospital? Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. Confront a friend about damaging behavior you’ve observed? Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. Start a new ministry to reach out to troubled teens? Oh, my Lord, please send someone else!

Sometimes we think it would be better if God only asked us to do things that are comfortable, familiar, and easily handled with the skills we already have. But the truth is, we would probably get very bored, because we wouldn’t be challenged enough to call on God for help!

When we allow God to guide us, we can accomplish more than we could ever do under our own power, and our lives become fuller and richer and more meaningful. Moses would learn to rely on God’s direction and power. And so can we!

Question:
Have you ever felt prompted to do something, but were afraid that you would fail?