God's calling/our willingness

Moses in this section and the previous section spends a lot of time making excuses to God. Many pastors criticize Moses. The reasoning goes that Moses in the Egyptian was overconfident, now he is underconfident and lacks faith. Perhaps this analysis is true, but Egypt was the most powerful country in the world at that time. They had the strongest military, the biggest economy. The Egyptians believed they had a right to exploit the Israelites who were in comparison small, weak and divided. So Moses' reluctance to get involved in some ways was prudent, realistic. We don't have any information that Moses had much prior experience with God, so it is natural for Moses to proceed with caution.Who is this God? Can I trust Him? Is this real? These questions were probably running thru Moses' head. And God patiently works through Moses' objections. During this year, we will encounter many Bible stories where God calls individuals, and most go thru the same process.

Many of the jobs God calls us to we will feel the same as Moses. The job is too big and we are too small. Which is true and exactly the point. The equation only changes once God is involved. Once we realize and are certain we are on God's side,(God is real, we are experiencing God's love and presence in our lives, we are confident the message is really from God) then the size of the problem and our inadequacies cease to be a big problem. The Christian life is a walk of faith. It is based on the greatness of God and our moment by moment relying on, obeying God even at times when it doesn't make a lot of sense.

When I heard the call to become a minister, I was in business with my brother. I could not see how I could leave my brother as there was too much work for one person. So I told God I was willing, but God would have to work it out. And God did step by step. First we lost our biggest customer, which reduced the work load. For a year, we reconfigured the business so my brother could do it by himself. My Aunt in SF needed help, so I was able to come out west, go to seminery, work at cumberland, get married etc. There is nothing too hard for God!!