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

Moses’ past had been stressful to say the least.  He had been taken from his parents, adopted by a princess, raised as a prince, enraged enough to murder, sought as a fugitive, fled as a fugitive, and married into a foreign culture. Whew!  But Exodus 2:21 finds Moses “content” in the stillness of the desert.   Yes, he was finally living a life of anonymity and tranquility, tending the flocks and minding his own business when God turned his world upside down.

Has something like this ever happened to you?  Perhaps your life has gone through stressful times but you have navigated the rough waters and all is calm.  Then, out of the blue, life throws you a curve. (Hopefully not as big a curve as Moses had!)  But perhaps your boss asks you to head up the company’s most challenging committee.  Perhaps you are expected to care for an elderly relative.  Perhaps you are needed to fill a role at church you are not excited to fill.  Even though these are on a far smaller scale than Moses, your calm and contentment are in jeopardy.

So, what do we do when we are called to an unwanted mission?  We usually enlist the same diversion tactic that Moses used: DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT!   Exodus 3:6 says that when Moses heard the voice of God, “Moses hid his face.” How comical!  Moses must have immediately anticipated that God’s calling would detonate his long-awaited calm, so Moses avoided looking at God.

Of course, Moses’ diversion did not work.  God still summoned Moses.  So, quickly, Moses employed his second diversion tactic: EXCUSE MAKING!   Moses began rattling off every excuse he could think of.  He made excuses that raised doubts about his own abilities, and more seriously, the authority and ability of the Great I Am.  Desperately, Moses continued making excuses until he finally angered God.  His excuses showed a lack of trust in the Great I Am.  But, when summoned by the Great I Am, excuses are worthless and diversion tactics never work.

Moses was being called to return to a land where he was a wanted fugitive.  That was not an easy calling.  Honestly, I totally understand Moses.  I would have done the exact same thing: avoided making eye contact and rattled off excuses.

To this day, I still recall a story my mom once told in order to teach her six little excuse-makers a lesson.

A knock came at the door of an elderly man’s home one evening, interrupting his supper.  His neighbor was wanting to borrow his wheelbarrow.  The elderly man said, “I’m afraid you cannot borrow my wheelbarrow, dear neighbor.  You see, I am having soup for supper.”

“You are having soup for supper?” replied the neighbor.  “What does that have to do with my borrowing your wheelbarrow?”

“Nothing!” replied the elderly man.  “But, if I do not want to loan you my wheelbarrow, I figure one excuse is as good as another.”   And with that, the old man went back to eating his soup.

When God calls us, our excuses to Him must sound just like, “Sorry Lord, I can’t.  I’m having soup for supper.”  But, the almighty God knows the purposes to which He has made us and will mightily supply us.  One excuse is as worthless as another.  So, starting today, no more “Soup for supper!”  Let us eagerly and boldly face the calling of the Great I Am.

Father God, help us to eagerly await your calling.  May we move forward knowing that you are mightily with us in this calling.  Change our hearts for yours.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane