Today's readings are Exodus 4.1-18 and Mark 15.1-15.
Today's reading in Exodus points out the tremendous difference between God's call and man's opinion. Man's opinion of himself ultimately fails to grasp God's plan. But in God's mercy he can take our weakness and work through it to accomplish his purpose.
Moses firmly represents man's opinion. Maybe he represents us. We have some natural abilities, some talents, some training, and we may recognize some areas in which we think the Lord has given us special gifts. This is well and good. There are some things I can do that you can't do. There are some things you can do that I can't. All the members of the body are valuable and serve their purpose, then the body is complete. Yet when he encounters God, Moses runs to the end of his abilities. How does he react? He reacts very much like you and I react. The Lord gives him a specific task to do, one which he knows he is not prepared for, which he is not well suited for at his best, and which will not be received well. So Moses essentially refuses the task.
How many times have we been looking at our abilities then looked at Scripture or looked around us at the need in this world and concluded that we simply aren't fit to do the tasks which our Lord has placed before us? We then often quietly shrug our shoulders and walk away from the opportunity our Lord has given us to bring him glory and honor. We'd rather live the life of a successful (popular, victorious, you pick the adjective) Christian than try to do something which is destined to fail. So we live a life of things not accomplished, choosing to work in the small realm in which we feel comfortable.
What was God's perspective on the whole situation with Moses? God has a job to do. He knows exactly how he wishes to accomplish it. In fact, since God is timeless, he knows exactly how he does accomplish it. He knows the dynamic going on with Moses, as well as with Aaron, Pharaoh, and all the countless other actors and spectators. When Moses confesses his inability, it would have been just as simple and straightforward for God to say, "You know, Moses, you're right. You aren't the person who can accomplish this. And since you refuse, I'll choose someone else who also can't accomplish it and do it through that person." But the Lord didn't do that. He persisted with Moses, lovingly allowing Moses to be confronted with his own inability and with God's great ability.
In the final analysis, whatever we do is not done by us, but is done by God working through us. As we serve the Lord, loving our neighbor as ourself, let us always be mindful that this is our Lord working in and through us. May we be sensitive to his calling, never fearful of our own inability, but confessing that our inabilty is yet another opportunity for us to show God's great power.
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