“But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’ But he (Moses) said, ‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’”
(Exodus 4:10-12)
I have had a similar conversation many times. People are quick to tell me that they are not very eloquent in speech and uncertain about their ability to speak to others about the good news of the Gospel. My response is usually something like: your success in sharing the Gospel is not found in your speech, but in your Savior!
Moses learned this truth the hard way too. Moses tried every trick in the book to get out of the call God had placed in his life! Moses was so concerned about his inadequacies that he came up with one excuse after another in hopes that God would cancel his call and let him go back to tending his sheep. Moses said . . .
1. I can’t do it!
2. They won’t believe me!
3. I can’t speak well!
4. Find someone else!
The mistake Moses made is the same mistake we all make from time to time: we look at ourselves rather than at our Savior! Moses was exactly right when he said he could not do what God was calling him to do; he could not do it in his own strength. But God was not sending Moses in his strength, but rather, in God’s strength. “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’” God had no intention of sending Moses to deliver God’s people in his strength; God was sending Moses in the strength of the Almighty Creator, LORD and God…for nothing is impossible with God even when He chooses to use us.
God did not call Moses as His mouthpiece because he was a gifted speaker—but because he WAS NOT—which would make it all the more clear who was the One responsible for freeing the Israelites from bondage. Moses’ success would not be found in his speech, but in his Savior. Without God, the most eloquent speaker in the world is nothing more than a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). You see, the power is contained in the Word of God, not in how we deliver it. People are not saved by human rhetoric, but by our Holy Redeemer. How we say it is important but we should never lose sight that we do not save…only God does in Christ Jesus.
Paul understood this truth as well: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (I Cor. 1:17)
When was the last time you felt a bit inadequate in speaking on behalf of your Lord? Perhaps you have convinced yourself that you aren’t very clever in your speech or you are just not knowledgeable enough. Remember, God made your tongue and gave you your speech and your ears, (and if you are like me your hands…I can hardly talk without my hands. LOL!) And He has every intention to use you to expand the cause of His kingdom with exactly the equipment He gave you! God never calls without equipping through the power of the Holy Spirit in us!
What God said to Moses through the burning bush, He is saying to you this day, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Keep this truth before you: success will never be found in your speech, but only in your Savior!
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
