—by Lois Lang

Exodus 3:11-12...But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” And [God] said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be a sign to you, that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

It sounds as if Moses was in need of a little reassurance about his assignment to go to Pharaoh and take the Israelites out of Egypt. Who wouldn’t want to check twice about a task like that? Even Gideon put out a fleece (more than once!) to confirm what God called him to do. In Moses’ case, though, God said that confirmation would come after the work was complete. Moses pressed God for a little more help: “What do I do if this happens? Or that? What do I say?” If you read further into this story, God did give him some pretty powerful advice. And let’s not forget that God was speaking with Moses from a burning bush. That should have bolstered Moses’ courage a bit as well.

There are times when God will assign us a task, and will confirm it before we begin it. But, as we see in Moses’ case, God sometimes asks us to do something and expects us to obey in faith and trust, without His giving us a sign until after the job is done. That can be a little (or a lot!) scary. But if He asks it, He will help us to accomplish it. He just needs us to be willing vessels. As Zechariah put it so succinctly, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Father, You have all power and all wisdom. Help us to trust You to perform by Your Spirit whatever you ask us to do, because we have no power without You. Thank You for confirmation and assurance, whether it’s before or after the fact. We really do love You and want to do what You ask of us. Please forgive our hesitation and trepidation. May You always be glorified. We pray in the Name of Jesus, our Soon-Coming King. Amen.