Exodus 4 - The Call of Moses

Moses was reluctant to accept God's call. God's call was strong and obvious. But Moses had reservations.

When I read the call of Moses and his hesitancy I think of a time when God called me to share a song that he gave me. It was pretty obvious that God gave it to me. There were two verses and the music which I actually wrote down. I picked the tune out on a piano.

God called me to share it. I refused. I was too proud. I thought I might be laughed at since I have no musical training. I was too shy. Anyway for several weeks God bugged me to share it. And when I didn't finally, after a couple of weeks someone else shared a similar song and I knew I was off the hook.

I wonder if my refusal closed some doors to other things that God had planned for me. But God did not reject me or hate me. I think I felt a lot of guilt, much of which came from Satan not God. I think I still have some feelings after all these years. That's why this story of Moses' call still reminds me of something that happened a long time ago.

It was an ordinary ditty. The version that did get sung a little around Redeemer is now mostly forgotten. The song that the man shared as a song God gave him was not exactly my song. But it was close enough. From that experience I got a great example of how when God gives a gift to someone it comes through the filter of his human servant. He and I were different so the final song was different.

It is interesting to me that most of the songs, and there were very many, that were inspired by the Redeemer revival, the ones that are still sung and are still in songbooks were written by trained musicians. The human servant is important to the process. God needs us to prepare ourselves to be used.

God called Moses and Moses had excuses why he could not do it. He had a heart for this mission, we saw that in Chapter 2. But Moses felt powerless and inadequate even despite the obvious power of God. Finally God lost patience and introduced Aaron into the mix.

It seems after Aaron became involved we hear no more about Moses' reluctance. After that Moses was committed. Why? Was it sibling rivalry? Or did Moses realize the obvious weaknesses of Aaron? Later we will see how little mental strength Aaron has. Moses may have already suspected this. He must have had a great fear in leaving the responsibility with Aaron. So now he was all in. I suspect God knew that bringing Aaron in would change Moses' attitude.

I think God has altered the way he works with me since my refusal to accept that call. Now it seems I see a need and only after I accept some responsibility to help do I find that God was calling me to it after all. It would be nice if I accept direct calls from God but I don't seem to comfortable with that. But God has not given up on me and he uses me when I allow myself to be used.

God wants all of us to accept training. Then God can use us better.