Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
MOSES (THE UNQUALIFIED)
"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of Jesus' Church; Simon Peter, the big talker turned coward; Jacob, the liar and deceiver; Elijah, the pessimist and complainer -- all were decidedly UNQUALIFIED to serve the God Who lives in unapproachable light.
Then there's Moses. At first glance his resume might look somewhat impressive. After all, he did spend many years in Pharaoh's palace, where he received a first class secular education. He also spent 40 years working as a shepherd in the Midian desert. (Taking care of foolish, stubborn, sheep can be useful preparation, I suppose, for watching over God's people.) But let's not forget that Moses was a murderer! Moses, qualified to serve the great I AM? Hardly! Moses had reason to say, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh?"
But God doesn't call the qualified. He calls sinners like Saul and Moses, as well as you and me. It was Saul/Paul who wrote: But we have this treasure [the Gospel] in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7. In a remarkable way God uses the fact that His servants are unqualified sinners. By using men like Moses and me, people are attracted to Jesus, and not the jars of clay -- you and me -- who carry the Savior's message.
But Paul also wrote: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). God also qualifies the called. Go back to our list of unqualified men from the Bible. Recall how the patient Lord honed, polished, and matured, these men of God. Look at the great apostle God crafted out of the proud, Jesus-hating, Pharisee. Behold the bold Law and Gospel preacher God fashioned out of a man who at one time wouldn't even defend his faith before a servant girl. See the humble, compassionate, faithful prophet God made out of murderer Moses.
You and I are God's workmanship as well. In and of ourselves we have nothing to offer God. But gave us His Son, eternal life, as well as the grace to serve Him. By God's tender-mercies we are qualified to serve Him now and forevermore!
