Part Three: Who Are You?

Fresh Manna© by Pastor Tim Burt
http://www.freshmanna.org

Exo 3:11 “ But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

I have been writing about the real you from God’s perspective – learning not to look at yourself through your own eyes, but seeing yourself as God sees you. Do you know that this is the true key to supernatural change and what ignites the power to conquer your lame excuses for not obeying God in your life?

If you know the story of Moses, you know that the beginning years of his life were anything but normal and that he was raised in the crosshairs of two cultures – Hebrew/Egyptian – religious/social-cultural. He had to come to the place of discovery –deciding for himself what he believed and how he wanted to walk out his life.

At the time he finally mustered up the courage to chose the side of his Hebrew heritage and do something for God’s people, he failed in the worst way. He committed murder. He fled and gave up all his hopes and dreams for a great many years until one day God called upon him to fulfill his destiny. God asked Moses to step out in faith and do something for Him. Let’s read about it and as we do, begin to see the battle of excuses warring with the voice of God telling Moses who he was and who he could be with God working in and through him.

Exodus 3:9, “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

We see the Moses’ first excuse –those words that the devil teaches us all to parrot and build into our thinking – “Who am I?” Verse 11 – “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

Moses struggled with his identity. He didn’t feel qualified and was sure there were others who were. He was probably thinking – “God you’ve got to be kidding! I am absolutely incompetent to do this!” Moses was seeing himself through his eyes and in his own ability rather than listening to God’s voice that He would be with him to help him at every step. He was afraid of failure. Most fear of failure in life is tied to the fear of the unknown, the scars of past failures, and public opinion – what are others going to think. God answers giving Moses a rod, signs, and wonders – the promise of a miraculous commissioning. Consequently the excuses flew.

God gives him a promise and a sign – something tangible to overcome that excuse. Look at God’s response. V12, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” What could inspire more confidence in a mission than God’s backing? I will be with you!”

Then Moses offered his second excuse. “What shall I say to them?” Verse 13 – “Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, “What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” God gave him what to say.

Then Moses had his third excuse. “What if they don’t believe me? They are not going to listen to me!” Exodus 4:1 – “Then Moses answered and said, But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, “The LORD has not appeared to you.”‘

God was so patient with Moses. He listened to his excuses and worked through each one with him. If you’re a dad and your child is telling you why he can’t do something such as pickup his room, are you as patient to help him? Are you as willing to help him? Part of who he becomes is you being in him – his helper, his friend, and his supporter.

God desired to use Moses in spite of his extensive flaws and contradictions. God’s addressed his excuses and objections with great detail, assurance and power. What did Moses do? Offer more excuses.

Number Four Excuse – I’ve never been eloquent – I’m just not a good speaker. God helped him through that.

Then Excuse Five – the one most people pull out of the bag before they walk away from God. Exodus 4:13 “But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send someone else.”

All of the great leaders in the Bible outside of Jesus Christ were flawed, fearful of doing what God asked them to do, and tempted to fall to excuses. It’s easier to make excuses about our inadequacies than it is to take on the challenge of God’s request. We’re plagued by self-doubt. We say wed don’t have the right skills for the job, and like Moses we may worry that people, even our families, won’t buy into our leadership as Jesus’ own brothers and sisters did.

God discerned the traits of leadership in Moses regardless of all shortcomings. He didn’t just give Moses the job assignment and send him on his way. He supported and reassured him by addressing his fears and objections and by promising to be with him while giving him the tools he needed to succeed. God choose to cultivate and develop leadership in Moses which would eventually inspire the future leaders of Israel. He would become one who modeled the leadership of trusting God more than himself. This is where excuses are defeated – when one knows who He is in God, not in himself. This is where men become godly men and women become godly women. This is where families become a powerful light. This is where churches become centers of influence changing cities, states, and nations.

Just remember how far behind the power curve Moses was, recall how he was paralyzed in fear, and how God helped him and taught him the answer to the question, “Who am I?” God is no respecter of persons and is waiting to help answer that question for you!

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://www.freshmanna.org