It Doesn’t Take a Burning Bush

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither

in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or

mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 1Now go; I will

help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant,

Lord. Please send someone else.” - Exodus 4:10-13 New International Version

In a previous job it was my responsibility to help people hear a call into ministry. Almost to a

person, when I asked them to consider if God might be calling them into a ministry position,

they would respond by telling me all the reasons why they couldn’t do it. I would tell them

what I and others saw in them, and how I felt God’s Spirit was leading me to make the

invitation. But they had a hard time getting past all the negatives about themselves that they

had rehearsed for years. “I can’t speak well.” “I don’t know what to say.” “I could never be a

leader like that.”

When God spoke to Moses from a burning bush, Moses was full of reasons why he knew he

couldn’t do what God asked of him. But God had the only reason that matter for why he could

– “Now go; I will help you…” When you feel inadequate and ill equipped to live the bold,

courageous life God calls you to, don’t wait for a burning bush. Just tell yourself this truth: God

will help you to do whatever he calls you to do. Thank God it all depends on him not ourselves.

Mark Miller