B30. Moses‘ syndrome
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B30. Moses‘ syndrome
„You know Pavel, I’m not really into evangelism,“ several believers have already told me. „Me neither,“ I usually answer nowadays…
Do you know the story of God calling Moses? „So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians… And now come (Moses), and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.“ (Exodus 3:8 and 10) Read it all in Exodus 3 and 4!
- Self-doubt
BUT Moses said to God: Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh? (3:11) Moses actually says here: „You know, Lord, I’m not really up to evangelism.“ And the Lord benevolently answers Moses: I will be with you! (3:12) - Doubts about God
But Moses doesn’t want to go, anyway. The second BUT follows: But Moses answered God. (3:13) „YBehold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God answered Moses: I am who I am. This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you… (3:14-15) Then comes a detailed instruction of what Moses is to say, and an exact scenario of what will happen, and how beautifully it will all turn out when they come out with the Egyptian treasures in their hands! - Doubts about People
Will you be surprised that these promises of the Lord are followed by the third BUT of Moses? But Moses answered: What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you. (4:1) Until now, Moses expressed doubts about himself and about the Lord, whom he did not know much yet. Now there is a doubt about the listeners: They will not believe me and listen to me. Does this sound familiar? In our country, many Christians also say quite often: „Those of our unbelievers will not believe me and will not obey me.“ I am shocked with the Lord’s patience. He gives miraculous signs to Moses so that he can try them on the spot and gain his own certainty, and also he can prove himself both to his brothers and subsequently to Pharaoh and the Egyptians! “What more could you want, Moses?! The Lord will protect your personal insecurity with his presence. Now you know what the Lord’s name is and what to say. And you also have the tools to prove God’s support to everyone else! So let’s go for it, shall we?!‘ - Doubts about the Message
Moses answered the Lord: Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. (4:10) By the way, I have a long-term and strong personal experience with „heavy-tongue“ in the sense of s-s-severe s-s-stuttering! And the Lord’s reaction? But the Lord said to him: Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? (4:11) This is overwhelming kindness of the Lord and an attempt to redirect Moses‘ attention: „You know, friend, that mouth of yours, which you say is heavy, I the Lord created, and I have my sovereign plan with it!“ Now then go, and I Myself will be with your mouth, and instruct you in what you are to say. (4:12) As if the Lord was saying here: „Moses, none of this is about you, it’s all about me! I will be with your mouth and I will teach you what to say. Just be obedient and you’ll see what happens…!” What about Moses? - Total Denial of the Ministry
„Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.“ Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. (4:13‑14) And then there are instructions on how they will work together with Aaron. Read it all in the 3rd and 4th chapters of the biblical book of Exodus!
There was time, when I also used to say to You, Lord Jesus: „I’m not really up to evangelization, please send someone else.“ Thank you for Your answer; you said to me: „It doesn’t matter at all that you are not into evangelism!“ Just tell them how you are with me…”