April 8, 2024

Exodus 7:1-13 (HCSB)
7 The Lord answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet. 2 You must say whatever I command you; then Aaron your brother must declare it to Pharaoh so that he will let the Israelites go from his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you, but I will put My hand on Egypt and bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out My hand against Egypt, and bring out the Israelites from among them.” 6 So Moses and Aaron did this; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Moses was 80 years old and Aaron 83 when they spoke to Pharaoh. 8 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh. It will become a serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. 11 But then Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers—the magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same thing by their occult practices.12 Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed their staffs. 13 However, Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

James Burns
I find it interesting that, despite our personal shortcomings or perceived lack of ability, when the Lord calls us to do something, we can have confidence that His task will be accomplished. His Will will be done. God didn’t need Moses’ ability, He just needed his willingness to obey.  The growth and maturing of our Christian walk seems to involve a series of assigned tasks that are outside of our comfort zone, outside of our “wheelhouse”. If we were only assigned tasks that were within our abilities, why would we need God? So, the question is, are we listening for His instructions and are we willing to trust God and obey; leaving the results up to Him? Hmmm?