God's Ways and Call - Too Big for Me?

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. Exodus 3:11-12

In Moses' withdrawal into the presence of God, there is a preparatory conversation there basically two questions that Moses has for God.

First, "Who am I, that I should do this thing?" vs 11

God responds, declaring who he WILL be when God is with him, and what his testimony will be. There is a condition of humanity which renders the question "who are you?" meaningless apart from "who will you be with on the path which God places you?" Today's knowledge of ourselves ought to resound with the question: "Who is God making me?"

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. - Exodus 3:13 -14

Second "Who shall I say sent me?" vs 13

To this, God answers by enlarging Moses' life with the details of God's intentions. Effectively "You ask 'Who are you?' Moses? You are the one I have chosen to work through you to this end", and God outlays His plan. The answer even details how the opposition will be overcome, and how the people following will be sustained.
Presenting his own practical and reasonable knowledge, Moses asks for better understanding. Tell me how those you send me to will believe! - How will they accept that Moses is merely representing God and not speaking of his own imagination? (Is this not a challenge to every minister of the gospel, today?) God's answer is a helpful enlargement!

We know several things which cannot be forgotten or diminished. God and only God calls one to do specific works. Young preachers, or aspiring students, despite how adept, enthused, practiced, or determined they are, cannot and do not call themselves. God alone calls an individual to personally represent Him. This fact may have different impacts in different situations, but in the end will make all the difference.

Now, Moses has heard WHO HE IS. and WHO IS DIRECTING HIM. Perhaps Moses, ideally, would be on his way to do the will of God, but the frailty of humanity is a big contributor to how God deals with us, and now Moses shows his soft and vulnerable parts, explaining what appears to be the ineligibility of Moses to enter the destiny God has declared. We cringe a little to think of the moment:

"I'm not eloquent. In fact, I never have been, and your message to me hasn't changed me" - 4:10

Unwise, Moses. Being yourself, yes. Being wise? No. Plainly, God would have stated that He who made the man could equip and employ the man if it were necessary, but Moses presses his weakness, and God tersely responds that He could work with Moses in spite of self-assessed limitations. After all, it was the will of the Almighty he would be doing, and not his own agenda.

It is here that a strange comment appears. Bible preaching and discussions frequently declare the earlier verses but now appears a curious statement. We need to pay it special attention since this statement of Moses clearly angers God and concludes the conversation for the moment.

In verse 4:13 Moses said.. "O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send."
To this statement, "the anger of the Lord was kindled".

Why such a response to this? Do we even understand Moses’ intent? We should, it seems. Here, the simplest version is the best. After all of God's instruction and foretelling of the success of this ministry, Moses apparently withdraws from the plan. We consider that Moses' hesitancy can no longer be regarded as hesitation or even objection but as REFUSAL. I had trouble with this but cannot escape the conclusion. When God did not accept Moses' claim of disqualification by limitation of eloquence or power of speech, Moses effectively said, "I hope you can find someone qualified! Do your will just as you want; I'm sure it will work out"

I have rarely heard a preacher pause here and consider this moment, but it seems profound. Is it surprising that a man, even one with the call of God, could retreat and fail to believe, even to the extent of saying "I just can't do it" or "Lord, I hope you find someone who can!"? That is what Moses did in this very real moment in the midst of one of the most profound and historic meetings between God and man in the Bible record.
Then what do we look for? Of course, we look for God's reaction to this rebellion. Moses was clearly not saying, "use whoever you want; you are God". Rather, it was "use someone qualified.”

From hereafter, Aaron would rebel or lack leadership in some ways, but the only hint of this moment visiting Moses again will be his striking of the rock. Perhaps even that moment of reasonable anger with the people in Numbers 20:11 is a reflection of this same characteristic. If so, we should study it.

Few, if any at all, will say that they are the most humble, or talented, or otherwise (though Moses was). However, we and very likely, nearly everyone, will do Moses’ sin. His failure to sanctify God in the eyes of Israel, most simply put, was nothing but doubting God's instruction and power to bring the perfect will of God to pass.

For this, in part, fully understandable to most everyone, Moses did not pass over Jordan.

In your patience possess ye your soul.

- mwb, rev 10/28