A daily, 32-day Lenten Devotional Series by Rev. Dave Brown
It was T.S. Eliot’s poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock that so deeply affected me. In it, the main character asked two related questions: “Do I dare disturb the universe?” “Should I…have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?” Sadly, his response in both cases was a resounding no. “I am no prophet.” “No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do to swell a progress, start a scene or two…”
Who would settle for that? Who would back away from the moment of greatness so pathetically that the footman would hold my coat and snicker? Not me.
Moses’ moment of greatness came at the burning bush. At that place God answered four questions. We looked at the first two questions in the previous study. The third and fourth questions are the focus of this lesson. How can I get people to believe God’s message? And, why would you pick me when I lack any eloquence? Please send someone else!
How can I get people to believe me when I speak about you? I can imagine Moses’ reasoning: People who have faced a lifetime of oppression are hard to impress! Since nothing has changed so far, they are not going to be easily convinced that help is on the way at the present. The LORD provided several answers. They are always worth noting.
First of all, Moses was to remind them of His name. “The God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob has appeared to me saying, I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt.” Deliverance is not a self-help program. It is not a 10 step plan for more vital living. If God is not in this thing, it is never going to work.
Secondly, God provided three signs of His authority. Moses’ shepherd’s staff would be greater than the cobra serpent which represented Egypt’s power. Moses’ hand would heal the incurable wounds inflicted upon the Hebrews. Moses’ changing water to blood would give notice to the true source of life. It is not the Nile River, it is the Lord who gives life to the fullest. Failure to acknowledge God’s authority would force the hand of the head of Egypt to let the Hebrews go.
As to the question of God’s choice of an ineloquent speaker, the answer was pointed and direct: “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Moses was so stubborn that he insisted that God choose someone else. That nearly caused a total disaster.
The one who made Moses and called him to service would prove to be more than adequate to equip him to succeed. The same is true for you and me. The only things that might hold back his plans is our unwillingness to “disturb the universe!”
Reflections: When did God meet you and call you to his service? What signs of his authority has he given you to sustain your decision to obey his call?