God’s people were suffering in slavery and crying out. God heard their cries and decided to come down to rescue them. He chose to call Moses and work through him. However, Moses had a lot of excuses as to why He couldn’t be a part of God’s plan. Moses sounded something like this, “I’m nobody…. I don’t know what to say…. What if they don’t believe me?… I am slow of speech and tongue…. Please, send someone else.”
Of course, God had all of the answers. He would be with Moses, and Moses should tell the people that it was he who sent Moses. He reminded Moses that this wasn’t Moses’ job but that he would display his power through Moses. God made it clear that he is the one who created Moses and his tongue, and he would help him speak. God worked through Moses to rescue his people from their misery and their slavery.
Years later, God came down through his Son, Jesus, to rescue his people from their slavery to sin. Jesus lived a perfect life and paid for our sins by dying on the cross. He rose from the dead and before ascending into heaven, he left instructions,
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…. (Matthew 28:18-20a)
The beauty of God’s story is that just as God called an unlikely, ordinary guy like Moses, he has also called each of us no matter how unlikely we or others view ourselves. That’s right, God has called you! Just like Moses, you may have a list of excuses as well, but Jesus didn’t leave us hanging helplessly with his final instructions. He finished verse 20 with these words,
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
After Jesus ascended into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and our Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. The Holy Spirit will always be with us, give us the power and give us the words.
Just as God was with Moses, he is with us. God wants to reach down through you to rescue his people. Look around. Where is God at work, and whose heart is he working on? As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it’s the perfect time to share with others who God is and what he has done. Will you obey his call?