I am not too told to ___________ (fill in the blank).
You might offer answers such as go dancing, eat milk chocolate (or your favorite unhealthy dessert), vote, walk 10 miles, take your grandchildren (or other loved ones) to lunch, travel across country, learn to play pickleball, and many more possibilities. How many of you would offer the answer – to follow God’s will for you wherever it might lead?
Pastor Don’s sermon this past Sunday used Abraham as an example of someone God used to fulfill His purpose when Abraham was 75 years old. Genesis 12 is the chapter in the Bible that begins this story and how Abraham faithfully followed God’s plan for him.
It turns out I had already decided on my message for today two weeks ago while on vacation, and it has a similar message to Pastor Don’s sermon. The story I want to share with you today is that of Moses when God called on him at age 80 to serve Him. The story begins in Exodus chapter 3 where God captured Moses’ attention using the burning bush which Moses had never seen in his 40 years of being a shepherd. God then said to Moses in verse 10 and Moses responded in verse 11:
Exodus 3:10-11 – And now come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” 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?”
God made a request to Moses that seemed to overwhelm Moses based on his response in verse 11. God was asking Moses to be His ambassador to Pharoah and to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, and you can understand the confusion for an 80-year-old shepherd who had not been to Egypt in 40 years. Moses again states his case that he is not qualified for this task in:
Exodus 3:13 – Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”
God again gave Moses the answer how to respond, and Moses continued this dialogue with God three more times on his many perceived shortcomings for this role:
Exodus 4:1 – Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’”
Exodus 4:10 – Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
Exodus 4:13 – But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
To the very end, Moses tried to get out of this mission, he could not understand how he could be the answer to this request from God. God would not take “No” for an answer and finally got Moses to agree to this task.
How often do we have excuses or just tune out God when He is speaking to us? How many opportunities might we have missed in our lives by not being ready and open to hear Him when He speaks to us?
I read this story in a new devotional that a friend gave me for Christmas written by Tim Tebow. Tina has also referred to Tebow’s devotional in one of her Wednesday messages already this year as well. Tim concluded:
But God didn’t let the reluctant man’s bevy of excuses keep the mission from moving forward. The stage was set, and Moses was already part of the scene. Despite Moses’ perceived lack of abilities and skills, God was waiting for him to offer his willingness. Eventually, Moses relented and carried out an incredible rescue mission. A mission-possible life is not about feeling ready – it’s about being willing!
As my favorite country singer Alan Jackson sings in The Older I Get, – You only get a minute, better live while you’re in it, ’cause it’s gone in a blink.
Are you ready, willing, and able to do what God may ask of you? It might be a way to serve others through Covenant Church or a local charity, or maybe to reach out to a family member or friend who God is ready to bring into His family of believers, or any number of other opportunities that God may lay on your heart at any time. Your age and lack of preparation is not a valid excuse, just your desire and willingness to serve and follow ….. wherever He may lead!