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

It’s interesting how many people respond to God’s calling much as Moses did. Conversely, the ones who respond with “I can handle that,” seldom do very well! The middle road, and the best one, is to say, “In myself I am nothing, but if You, Lord, work through me, anything is possible.” That, frankly, is neither easy nor common. Moses’ issue here, and the issue for most of us, was faith. When we are focused on ourselves, it’s extremely difficult to trust God fully. The plain fact of the matter is that none of us have the ability in ourselves to work God’s works. At the same time, it is manifestly true that God is omnipotent, so He can use anyone or anything to do what He wants. A case in point is His using Balaam’s donkey to talk to him, as recorded in Numbers 22. Don Francisco used that memorably in a song, in which he said, “So if the Lord starts using you, don’t you pay it any mind. He could have used the dog next door, if He’d been so inclined.” That is spot on! I’ve mentioned before that we had a refrigerator magnet that said, “Where God guides, He provides.” That applies to abilities, too! It is God’s business whom He chooses and sends, and we must never forget it. We are to be like Isaiah, volunteering to be available, (Isaiah 6:8) but never thinking our own strength and abilities are up to the task. It is His strength and His ability that accomplish His will, for His glory.

This is, frankly, something I’ve struggled with most of my life. A lot of it was from the point of conceit – sure, I can do it – and the Lord has had to beat that out of me. I’m grateful, because pride can never stand before the Lord. I couldn’t begin to say how many times I’ve referenced Ephesians 2:8-9, about how our salvation comes from faith and not works, so that pride is excluded. At the same time, I’ve got to keep remembering verse 10, that says that God has prepared good things for us to do. Calling comes firmly in that area. If God has prepared things for us to do, then He also prepares us to do them, whether we realize it or not. Being aware that we can’t get the job done in our own strength and wisdom is a good thing, if we at the same time trust God to do it in His strength and wisdom. I’ve got to exercise the faith God has given me, believing that He has things for me to do and applying myself to them, at the same time knowing that my own abilities are certainly not up to the task. If I will do that, then His power will be manifested in my weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) accomplishing His will for the benefit of many, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the scare I had yesterday, and the reminder that Your plans are always good. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, today and every day, so that Your plans may be fulfilled however You want to do it, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!