LOOK

verb: to direct one’s attention; to examine

And Moses answered, “Look at me. I stutter. Why would Pharoah listen to me?” Exodus 6:30

God told Moses, “Look at me.” Exodus 7:1

Moses had an unusual start to his life. He was born at a time when all male Israelite babies were sentenced to be killed. His mother protected him by hiding him in a basket made of reeds and floating it down the river. There in his floating basket, he was found by Pharoah’s daughter who saved him and brought to live in the royal family.

His unusual life continued.

He grew up witnessing his Jewish relatives labor as slaves in Egypt under brutal conditions. In a moment of anger, he killed an Egyptian and covered it up. Frightened and guilty, Moses ran off and hid in the wilderness. And in this unfamiliar land, he met and married the daughter of a foreign priest.

I wonder if he relaxed a bit here, thinking that his life was going to feel a bit more “normal” now. He settled down, started a family, and began working for his father-in-law.

But then, one ordinary day in the fields of Midian, God showed up.

Speaking to him through a bush blazing with fire, God called Moses to go back to Egypt and persuade Pharoah to let his people go.

Moses’ first reaction was “Why me?”

“They won’t trust me.” (I’m a murderer who ran away.)

“They won’t listen to me.” (I’m an outsider.)

“Please send someone else. I don’t talk well. I stutter and stammer.” (There are so many people much better with words than I am.)

Moses could only see his faults, his flaws, his limitations, and his fear. He felt so unqualified. Over and over he argued with God.

And every time, God would reassure him.

I am God.

I will be right there with you.

I made your mouth.

I will teach you.

Thank goodness Moses kept pushing through his doubts and fears. The miracles of God bringing his people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land are so foundational to our faith today. The unusual story of the life of Moses reminds us of what God can do with a scared but trusting heart.

Can we do that too? Can we trust God despite our weaknesses when he shows up and gives us an opportunity to serve him?

“But why me, God?”

“I have terrible anxiety, and I panic just thinking about it.”

“I have no experience/credibility/expertise in this area.”

“I have such shame from my past. What if people knew?”

“Just look at me!”

And God smiles and says, “Look at me.”

Invite Him In

Look at him. No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or what you think your limits are, he sees the beautiful, capable, righteous child that he has created and forgiven. He is calling you to something special. He will be right there with you, he will teach you, and he will faithfully work in and through your scared but trusting heart.