Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

When I look into the mirror of my heart to see who I am, I see a man who passionately loves Jesus. And I see a man trying to walk out his life with Christ-like character, determined to influence others toward His love and saving grace. I so want people to see Jesus in me, but I know my flaws all too well. I have them just like we all do. I work on them, hopefully, like we all do. If I didn’t look reflectively within, I’d never try to change what needs changing. But it’s also important to see myself as God sees me. This is an absolute key to supernatural change! It’s what ignites the power to conquer your excuses and fears. It’s what leads you to the supernatural life God destined for you instead of the unfulfilled, mediocre life far too many experience!

If you know the story of Moses, you know that the beginning years of his life were anything but normal. From birth to adulthood, Moses was raised in the crosshairs of two cultures—Hebrew and Egyptian. He had to eventually come to the place of deciding for himself what he believed and how he wanted to walk out his life.

Moses chose the side of his Hebrew heritage. He was trained in Pharaoh’s court as an aspiring Egyptian leader. At one point, when he could no longer live with the slavery that he saw the Hebrew people oppressively subjected to, he made a leadership move that had disastrous results. In trying to protect a Hebrew slave from being beaten, he inadvertently killed an Egyptian taskmaster.  He immediately fled,  believing he would be killed by Pharaoh. In doing so, he was giving up all his hopes and dreams for a great many years until one day God called upon him to step into the destiny of His plan for Moses. God asked Moses to step out in faith and do something for Him. Let’s read about it, and as we do, notice the voice and excuses of Moses’ feelings of inadequacy. Also, notice Moses sparring with God about who he was and who he could be with God working in and through him. 

Exodus 3:10 NKJV, “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

As you continue to read through this chapter, you see Moses pleading with God, offering four excuses and a final plea.

1. “God, who am I to do this?”
2. “What if they say, “How do we really know God sent you?”
3. “What if they say, “God didn’t really send you?”
4. “I’m inadequate for the job, I can’t speak well.”

God answered every excuse for Moses with a promise of help, but Moses still finally said, “Please send someone else!”

I hope you realize that all the great leaders in the Bible outside of Jesus Christ were flawed. They all struggled with the fear of failing to accomplish what God asked them to do. They were all 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 we don’t have the right skills for the job. (I remember my first step of faith—to teach 4th graders the Bible! I felt unqualified and terrified!) And like Moses, we may worry that people—even our families might ridicule us for our decision to serve God wholeheartedly. After all, who knows our faults and inadequacies better than them? You’re going to what? Who do you think you are?