The Bible is full of countless stories and records of people who were actually a lot like us. Joseph was a young man, “burdened with glorious purpose” (roll a Loki montage), Ruth was a beautiful woman with a tragic backstory, Paul was that one kid in youth group that does a complete 180 at church camp and no one can really trust him for a while, and Moses was a really great leader with crippling insecurities.
Crippling insecurities you say? Relatable!
Let’s get a quick backstory: Moses is a prince, well educated and probably given whatever he wants. Moses stood up for a noble cause and feared what people were saying about him so he fled. Moses gets married in the wilderness, the Israelites groan on, but God is still faithful.
Moses, a once noble prince, was watching some sheep. He comes across this inexplainable burning bush and the Lord clues him in on a couple things:
- God was aware of the suffering of His special people.
- God had a plan to get them out that would ultimately bring glory back to Himself.
- God planned on using Moses to achieve His plan.
Moses has a people pleasing issue though, remember his crippling insecurities? The first words out of his mouth back to God were essentially, “but, what about what everyone is going to say to me?” God gives an eloquent and powerful response in Exodus 3:14-22. But again, Moses is too caught up on other people and the power their words had over the great I AM. But God, in His graciousness and patience, showed a crazy cool sign to Moses. God changed Moses’s staff into a snake and Moses ran from it. How many times do I ask God to show up to me, and He shows up in my life and I run the opposite direction? I’ve begged God to give me something to do in His kingdom, and when opportunity arises, I usually refuse.
God equips Moses with two other crazy signs, basically proof that would validate who Moses was coming from and again, Moses lets his insecurities get the best of him. “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 tongue.” Remember, this is a 40-year-old man talking. God is showing up in his life big time and Moses is so insecure that all he can think about is how stupid he is going to sound in front of all these people or how he isn’t good enough for this job.
I think you know the rest of the story. God tells Moses, “Who made man’s mouth?” (drop the mic). Moses goes back to Egypt and leads the people out of Egypt and into the promised land, a special place for God's special people.
God wants to take you to the promised land He has for you. He wants you to lead and be led by Him. We have to let go of the things we are insecure about. We have to let go of what people are going to think about us. God has a magnificent plan for us and I often find myself obstructing the great and awesome plan with my own fears.
Also, let's just think about the fact that Moses found his purpose when he was 40. I think that our culture pushes young people to have their life figured out by the time they are 22 but God brought up one of the most predominate figures of the old testament when he was 40. Breathe. Lead where you are. Do the task God has set before you now, the future will be here before you know it.
Let God take you where He wants to take you. He knows the things about us that aren’t perfect, He is aware of it, and He wants to use you anyway. And honestly, you might not have your burning bush, purpose-giving moment until you are 40 and that is okay.
