Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Exodus 4:11-12)
In this verse, God said to Moses during his conversation at the burning bush. God had announced to Moses that he had heard the cries of his people, he knew their sorrows and had come to deliver them to the land promised through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Standing before God was Moses. Moses was uniquely capable because of what he had experienced in Pharoah's house – he knew protocol, he knew the magicians. In every way, he spoke the language of Pharoah's court. He was also uniquely qualified because he knew Pharoah personally. Looking back we may see that Moses was practically made for this moment, to represent the Lord before the oppressing regime.
God had already shown him a glimpse of the miracles he wanted to do through him. And what was Moses' response?
“Who am I that I should go to Pharoah?”
Despite what we may see as God's preparing Moses, all Moses could see was his limitations. The things that he had done that in his mind disqualified him from the mission.
Looking back, we can see the absurdity of Moses' self-limitation, only because we can see him through the hindsight of what he accomplished before Pharoah and on the journey to the Promised Land.
Perhaps we can look at things through Moses' eyes at that time. Yes, he was brought up in Pharoah's court but discovered that he was a Hebrew – someone he probably looked down upon for his entire upbringing as someone without value. He had no claim to royalty, his very presence in Pharoah's family could be perceived (by him) as luck. He had killed an Egyptian supervisor, was rejected by the Hebrews and could never return to Pharoah's court. He was a failure in every way.
But, I cannot judge Moses too harshly, I have allowed myself to be tempted in a similar way from time to time. Through the eyes of comparison, or guilt and shame – to consider myself disqualified from whatever God had laid before me at the time. Yet, God had clearly called me forward. Perhaps Moses was not the most confident speaker. Perhaps he had not led people before – but God had called Moses forth. God knew that his survival as an infant was not an accident, his preparation in Pharoah's presence, understanding his strengths and weaknesses – and considered him correct for the role.
God has gifted us with many gifts, often some that we take for granted because we cannot see how well God has provided – or how it all fits in the grand scheme of it all.
Like Moses, you are uniquely qualified to do the things God has called you into. I believe that we are all called into something, although it may not always look like a 5-fold ministry.
I believe that people can even be called into business roles on behalf of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes it's providing or volunteering, sometimes it's creating and crafting like Bezalel. It can be buying a few extra groceries each week to give to a food pantry, joining a prayer team, or anything God has led you to and gifted you with.
Just know, that whatever God has called you to – it is a privilege.
Even your ability to speak, see or hear was never a guarantee – some do great things even without these abilities. In every case, you are uniquely qualified, through your experience and your gifting – to carry out all He has called you to do.
I hope that encourages you.
Kevin Vawser
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