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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Who? Me? Yes, You! The theme connotes a person who has doubts about their calling but is being reassured of its certainty. Exodus 3 describes God’s self-revelation to Moses in the burning bush, where God, identified as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, commissions Moses to liberate the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and reveals his covenant name, “I am who I am” (Yahweh). The chapter establishes God’s holy presence, his compassion for the suffering Israelites, and his promise to be with Moses to fulfil the covenant with his ancestors, despite Moses’s initial fear and doubt. We shall reflect on the fact that our doubts and fears are reasons why we give excuses and are reluctant to respond to the call of God; however, God calls and empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Beloved in the Lord, two of the reasons why we give excuses or try to decline the call of God to serve in a particular capacity are fear and doubt. Moses’ fear and doubt were expressed in his response to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:1) Indeed, our faith dwindles when we begin to entertain fear and doubts, and this was the predicament of Moses. He was afraid to go back to Egypt because he was once a fugitive for murdering an Egyptian. Again, he had doubts about this mission because he felt he was an ordinary shepherd without any military training or power. We shall be gripped with fear and doubts when we focus on our frailties, weaknesses, past and anticipated challenges. However, our faith is made strong and we are greatly emboldened when we say with Jesus, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Yes, like Moses, we may have our fears and doubts about our calling because we are ordinary people with many challenges and weaknesses. But God has better purposes and plans for our lives. He calls ordinary men and women and uses them for extraordinary things. All he requires from us is to have faith and respond like Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) and like Samuel, respond, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” (1 Samuel 3:9)

Beloved in the Lord, when God calls us, He manifests His glory and power to assure us of His continued presence and empowerment during the mission He has called us to embark upon. It is for this reason God said to Moses “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain. ” (Exodus 3:12). God does not call and send us alone it is for this purpose Jesus assured the apostles, “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) The mission is His, we are only privileged tools chosen by grace. David experienced the glory and power of God in his calling when He said, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me” (Psalms 23:4). We are invited today to respond to God’s call to serve Him in your nation, family, church and society. We are greatly encouraged to look beyond our past, fears, doubts and challenges in responding to God’s call so that we say with Paul at the end, “…the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

In summary, we have discovered that our doubts and fears are reasons why we give excuses and are reluctant to respond to the call of God; however, God calls and empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

PRAYER

Lord, we surrender ourselves to you. Use us for your glory. Amen.