Verse of the Day Devotion: Exodus 3:11  

“But Moses said to God, who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” – Exodus 3:11     

Moses was pasturing the sheep of Jethro, his father-in-law, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush.  Because of this, Moses turned aside to see this incredible sight,  that a bush is on fire, but not burning up.  When the Lord saw that he had turned aside, He called out to him from the midst of the bush saying, “Moses, Moses.”  After hearing this, Moses answered “Here I am.”  The Lord then answers, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5.  God then goes on.  “He said also, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” Exodus 3:6.  When God revealed who He was, Moses hid his face, for He was afraid to look directly on Him.  It is probable that Moses did the same as Elijah did.  “When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:13.

The Lord then tells Moses His plan.  “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them.  ” Exodus 3:8-9. 

The Lord then tells Moses He has a job for him to do.  “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10.  However, notice his response in our focus verse.  “But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11.  This is a humble response, basically asking ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh and then bring God’s people out of Egypt?  He know doubt believed  he, being simply a shepherd, could not go to Pharaoh, probably thinking he would not listen to him.  However, God told him he would not be doing this by himself.  “And He said, Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” Exodus 3:12

How many times have you been called by God to do something and you were apprehensive to move forward and fulfill the calling?  Maybe you felt you did not have the education needed to do what He had asked of you, or maybe you do not have the oratory skills to make it happen.  Or maybe, just maybe, you do not feel you are worthy to do what is being asked of you.  We must understand that if God calls us to do something, then He knows we can do it.  As God told Moses, ‘certainly I will be with you’, I am sure He will be with us as He was with Moses.  God knows what we can accomplish, and He will not give us more than we can handle.  We must trust completely in God that whatever He calls us to do, we can certainly fulfill.  And, if God says we are worthy, than we are more than worthy.  Humility is a good thing, but we must not let it stop us from doing what He calls, but to do what He calls in a humble manner.

We must be open to whatever calling He has for us, for He has prepared us for this purpose.  And we also  know that He will be with us, guiding us to do it as He desires, and helping us during difficult times.  Just as He did for Moses.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.