Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you’ve been telling me, ‘Lead these people forward.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. Yet you’ve assured me, ‘I know you by name and think highly of you.’ Now if you do think highly of me, show me your ways so that I may know you and so that you may really approve of me. Remember too that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “I’ll go myself, and I’ll help you.”
Moses replied, “If you won’t go yourself, don’t make us leave here. Because how will anyone know that we have your special approval, both I and your people, unless you go with us? Only that distinguishes us, me and your people, from every other people on the earth.”
The Lord said to Moses, “I’ll do exactly what you’ve asked because you have my special approval, and I know you by name.”
Exodus 33:12-17
Moses is telling God (so to speak): “Put your money where your mouth is.”
Do something.
God gives Moses a vision and frankly – a HUGE task:
To move a hurting community forward.
And this is how Moses responds: Okay. But how? And with whose help?
Moses asks God: “Who will you send with me, in order to get the job done? This isn’t a one man job.”
How often do we feel like we’ve been given an impossible task by God, as individuals and as a church?
To be the one to look ahead in hope, when the world around you feels like it is falling apart;
to rise to the challenge when the challenge seems too big to solve;
to roll up your sleeves and lend a hand, when no one else wants to;
to speak up for a more just way, when the sounds of war and gun violence ring louder;
to share the love of God with your neighbor, when your neighbor seems to want nothing to do with you.
God tells Moses: Do not be discouraged, for I am going with you.
God says, “I will make a way and I will give you who and what you need to get the job done. Trust me.”
God is asking Moses to step out in faith, and allow God’s Spirit to move.
To surprise him by all that God will provide and accomplish.
How might God be calling you to step out in faith today in a difficult or impossible situation? How can you be the hope and love of God right where you are – and trust that God will give you everything you need in order to get the job done?
Pastor Kate
