Responding to God's Calling for us

I read Exodus 3, and I still can't help but add to my readings by listening to the Prince of Egypt soundtrack. The song Deliver Us by Ofra Haza still gives me the chills because it really reminds me of the cry that would remind God of His people and of the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the focus of the passage shifts away from the Israelites for a bit towards Moses and his calling, and how we have the same reasons for hesitating to respond to God's calling.

When we hear God's calling to do something, whatever it might be (missions, serving the church, seminary, serving the community, or even just holding a cubicle job), we would always question one of these three things and Moses did likewise:

1. We would question the calling itself. In the passage, Moses' first objection was raised once he was aware of what God was calling him to do. Often times, it's the absurdity of what God might be calling us to do. For Moses, it was to deliver an entire nation out of bondage in the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For us, it might be committing those long hours of our days and weeks to serve children's ministry, or to give up an internship or job so that we can serve God through missions trips. Regardless of the calling, we have a tendency to weigh the magnitude of the calling and sometimes base our decisions solely on that.

2. We would question the one being called: Moses' first objection was directed towards his merit or ability to perform the task he was called to do. However note God's response in verse 12. God responded to Moses' lack of confidence by placing that confidence on Himself, not on Moses. God didn't give Moses reassurance in the tiny, insignificant mortal Moses. God didn't tell Moses that He had granted him a special ability or that He has transformed him to be the best speaker that will move the Israelites into rebellion. God didn't even mention that Moses was the special one that He had chosen to present God's wonders in front of Pharaoh. All God told Moses was that He was going to be with him. For our callings, we should be comforted and reassured just by that very phrase that God is with us. If the only thing holding us back in serving God is what we think of ourselves, then let verse 12 serve as a reminder that it's not in ourselves that we'll be able to perform the duty, but rather in God. If the one and only sovereign God is with us, then why should we be afraid of our own shortcomings?

3. If the things before were not what was holding us back, then it's safe to say we're probably questioning God Himself. I think that the root of Moses' doubt is that he didn't know who God was. Verse 13 and onward is a revelation of God to Moses. And when it comes down to it, that's where we might doubt the calling God has for us. We don't think He's sovereign over all things, especially His calling for us. We don't think God will be there with us, that we'll be sent to stand on our own as weak and imperfect creatures. We don't think God will provide in every way possible. And that's why we end up unwilling to answer God's calling.

For whatever reason we're hesitant on responding to God calling, it ultimately boils down to our perception of God and how He works. Interestingly enough, God does answer our doubt. In the passage, God reminds Moses of the promise He has fulfilled through the patriarchs. He assures them of His presence and guidance by reminding them of his sovereignty. He tells them how He plans to work through Moses and the Egyptians to deliver them out of slavery. All in all, God reminds the Israelites who is in control. And whenever we reach a point where we doubt this, just look at the cross. The cross wasn't an accident, and neither was it Jesus being momentarily defeated by Satan, or even the pharisees and Herod. Jesus was not just one of the victims of the Roman regime. It was a victory from start to finish because this was the greatest act of God's sovereignty found in John 3:16, that He gave His son up, demonstrated through the acts of the pharisees, Herod, and Pilate for our salvation. And Jesus obeyed the Father knowing it was His calling to die for us, knowing that it was all happening according to God's plan.