How Am I Supposed to Do This?

But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? God answered, ‘I will be with you. . .’“.

Exodus 3:11-12a (New Living Translation-NLT emphasis added)

I have read that scripture many times but I don’t think I truly understood it until recently. The other side of that realization is that I didn’t realize I didn’t truly understand it until recently. Does that make any sense? I enjoy reading God’s holy word every day and delight in experiencing His revelation about the meaning of His word. However, I think there are times when we need to experience real-life situations to explain the full meaning of God’s word.

For me, it meant experiencing enough frustration in my life regarding the future and God’s plans for that future. By that, I mean the Lord let me come to a place in my life where I had no choice but to seek Him and experience the true meaning of “I will be with you”. The alternative was to remain wandering in circles for the rest of my life. Recently, I have been asking the Lord some questions and hearing a similar answer, “I will be with you”.

Lord, I know you have changes in store for me, but I don’t know where you are leading me.

I will be with you.

I don’t feel adequate to the task.

I will be with you.

I don’t feel prepared for what the future holds for me.

I will be with you.

What will happen if I make mistakes?

I will be with you.

The Lord said the same thing to Gideon. Gideon couldn’t believe that the Lord would choose him to free Israel from it’s oppressors. He wondered why the Lord would use him. He was the least important man from an insignificant family. The Lord’s answer to Gideon was, “I will be with you”. In other word’s, Gideon’s ability to accomplish his calling is dependent upon the FACT that God will get it done – through Gideon.

It is a question many of us, including myself, ask the Lord when He calls us or leads us in a new direction. Why me Lord? How could you ask me? How will I ever be able to do it? The answer is always: “I will be with you”. Our ability to fulfill His calling in our life is because He is with us and He will get it done – through us.

Now I realize that when the Lord says, “I will be with you”, He means, “I am with you – isn’t that enough?”

How Do You Want to be Remembered?

What do you think about when you read the title of this article?

Do you start thinking about doing more and more things in the hope that you will be remembered? Do you think you should brag about your accomplishments? What about giving money to a cause or putting your name on plaques?

Many people spend their life trying to make a name for themselves. They spend time trying to succeed in business, sports, arts, politics or even religion. Some want to be remembered as a philanthropist, some as a business genius or notable sports great. Whatever the reason, people spend an inordinate amount of time trying to make others believe they are someone great or will soon to be someone great.

What do you think about when you hear the name Moses (Moshe)?

Some of the things that come to mind are national leader, prophet, teacher, writer, husband, father and intercessor. He saw the Lord face to face and let the Lord work mighty miracles through him for the nation of Israel. If I had to choose two people who have had the greatest influence throughout history, the first would be Yeshua (Jesus) and the second would be Moses. People have done paintings and sculptures of Moses. Pastors preach about him. Books have been written about him. The Jewish people still consider Moses one of their greatest Rabbi’s.

However . . . .

How does the Lord refer to Moses?

In the book of Joshua, chapter one, the Lord refers to Moses as “My servant Moses”. If you look in scripture, you will find several places where Moses is referred to simply as a servant of the Lord (or some form of that phrase).

Why?

In the Kingdom of God, a servant is the very definition of the word “great”. There can be no greater honor than having the Lord calling you His servant. Moses did great things, but he was great because he was first a servant of the Lord. Being a servant was not just a title to him but an attitude and a way of life.

Yeshua stated that the greatest people in the Kingdom of God are servants. He is not trying to be a poet or a philosopher. He means every word. God’s word says that if you spend your life trying to make a name for yourself you will find yourself humbled. However, those who humble themselves will be exalted.

“In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’ ” Luke 17:10 (New Living Translation – NLT)