From our "At the Movies" series - The Prince of Egypt
When we were planning our summer "At the Movies" series, I was like a kid asking for Christmas morning to come early, begging to preach this message. "Please, let me do Prince of Egypt," I said. And honestly, if you haven't seen this movie, you have homework. It's the life of Moses, it's award-winning, and it's straight scripture.
But here's what struck me as I prayed about this message: with all the cinematic drama of the Red Sea, plagues, and Pharaoh, the Holy Spirit kept bringing me to one very intimate part of Moses' story. The burning bush. That moment when God calls clearly, and Moses responds with... well, let's just say it wasn't exactly a wholehearted "yes, Lord."
The Setup: A Life of Identity Conflict
Picture Moses' situation for a moment. This guy had the blood of an Israelite, the culture of an Egyptian, and was now living in the desert like a Midianite. Talk about identity conflict. He was never quite Spanish enough for his Spanish friends, never quite white enough for his white friends. (Okay, that's my story, but you get the picture.)
Moses spent 40 years hiding in the wilderness as a shepherd, probably thinking he'd escaped the call, dodged the pressure, grown a good beard, and changed his accent enough that everyone had forgotten about him. But here's a hard truth I need you to catch: you cannot run from the call of God in your life. You can't outrun it, escape it, or get away from it. He'll put a burning bush right in your path if He needs to.
The Call: When God Speaks Clearly
In Exodus 3, we see one of the most dramatic encounters with God in all of scripture. Moses sees a bush burning but not burning up, hears God call his name twice, and receives the most holy name of God: "I AM WHO I AM." This name was so sacred that generations of Jews wouldn't even fully write it or say it aloud.
God gives Moses:
- A promise of deliverance for Israel
- His holy name
- A miraculous sign (staff to snake)
- The assurance of His presence
You would think Moses would say, "Amen, Lord, I'll go!" But instead, Moses gives excuse after excuse:
- "Who am I to do this?"
- "What if they ask your name?"
- "What if they don't believe me?"
- "I'm slow of speech and tongue."
- "Please send someone else."
The Heart of the Issue: Internal vs. External Battles
Here's what I want you to catch: Moses' biggest battle wasn't Moses versus Pharaoh. It was Moses versus himself. This was a battle against fear and insecurity, an internal conflict that kept him from stepping into what God had clearly called him to do.
Your insecurity is not an excuse for your disobedience.
I know that sounds hard, but let me explain. Your feelings are real. Your fears are valid. Your insecurities have roots that may go deep. But at some point, if you let your feelings dictate your faith, it becomes disobedience.
Think about it this way: imagine the most important person in your contacts calling you. You see their name on your screen, but instead of answering, you sit there thinking, "This is probably a pocket dial. They can't really be calling me. Maybe they think it's someone else." Meanwhile, the phone just keeps ringing because you're questioning yourself instead of answering the call.
God's calling you because He's calling you. You're wasting time asking questions about yourself when His call is for you, with purpose, on purpose.
The Truth About Qualification
Here's something that will set you free: God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. He's not looking for someone who has it all together. He's calling you, and that's enough qualification.
Moses had a staff, not a sword. When God asked, "What's in your hand?" Moses basically said, "Just this stick." And God said, "Great, I can use that." Too many of us are ashamed that we don't have a sword when all we need is a staff. If God is with you, it's all you need.
The Power of Obedience Over Confidence
Here's a revelation that might change everything for you: Miracles follow obedience, not confidence. You don't have to feel self-confident to be used by God. You can do it with your hands shaking andyour palms sweating. You can do it afraid, questioning, worrying. Peter didn't feel confident stepping onto the waves. David didn't feel confident facing Goliath with a stone. Jesus didn't feel confident carrying the cross. But they were obedient, and miracles followed obedient people, not confident people.
God's Response to Your Weakness
When Moses finally reveals his deepest insecurity ("I'm slow of speech") God's response is powerful: "Who gave humans their mouths? Who makes them speak or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" (Exodus 4:11-12).
God doesn't argue with Moses' fear. He responds with His presence. "I will be with you." That's God's answer to your insecurity every time: His presence. You don't need Him to explain everything because if God is for us, who can be against us? His presence is enough.
The Plan Above the Plan
Here's where God gets angry with Moses, and it reveals something profound. The deliverance of Israel was already decided. God was going to set them free whether Moses said yes or not. But Moses' destiny wasn't just to set Israel freethat was happening anyway. Moses' destiny was to represent Jesus in a time and place where no one had ever heard the name of Jesus.
Moses was meant to be the Old Testament deliverer who pointed to the ultimate Deliverer. He was meant to show what it looks like to bring people from slavery to promise, to demonstrate the blood across the doorpost that shields from death.
The reason God gets angry isn't because Moses is arguing, but because Moses is messing up the picture. God needed Moses to represent Jesus with authority and strength, not with insecurity and crutches.
Friends, you face obstacles too, but the purpose of God is already set in your life. Your biggest challenge might seem impossible, but God has already locked in the outcome. He's looking at a higher level. In everything you do, you're meant to be the picture of Jesus in your home, your city, your school, and your business.
The Picture You're Meant to Be
When your insecurity causes you to shrink back, you mess up the picture. We're image bearers, and your job is to take your place and represent Jesus in everything you do. The picture isn't meant to be weak, broken, or scared. The picture is meant to be one of authority, power, love, and strength.
God can handle your stutter. What frustrates Him is your silence.
He would rather you say, "All right, God, I'm going to do this thing and I don't know how and I'm scared, but I'll try anyway." It's better for you to speak and stutter than to be silent. It's better for you to walk out into the storm with Jesus than to hide in the boat without Him.
Stop Rehearsing Rejection
Moses was so worried about what people would think that he stopped being concerned with what God thought. We rehearse rejection over and over, thinking it's preparing us, but it's actually diminishing our faith.
Stop rehearsing rejection and start responding to revelation. If God said it, it's true. If He said it, believe it. If He said it, it's done.
Your Trauma as Your Platform
You may be overlooking the fact that your story, including your pain and trauma, is meant to give you authority and influence in specific areas. You don't realize that your trauma might be one of the platforms for your authority, but it's the one thing you're trying not to look at.
Want to find your influence? Look right into your pain. That's where your influence is. Look into the parts you don't want to examine and find God in them. That's where your authority comes from.
The Call to Obedience
Delayed obedience is disobedience. If you keep making excuse after excuse, it's not just insecurity anymore. You've become disobedient. At what point do we own the fact that our insecurity is not an excuse for our disobedience?
God doesn't need you to have the whole plan. He needs you to take the first step. You're waiting until you feel capable, but God is waiting for you to say yes. When we focus on our weakness, we miss God's strength.
The Bottom Line
Fear is not an excuse. Insecurity doesn't disqualify you. God didn't stutter when He called you. It was clear. He doesn't need you to be confident; He needs you to be obedient.
You're made to be the picture of Jesus in your situation. All God's looking for is your obedience. Your stutter doesn't bother Him; your silence does.
So today, it's time to open your mouth and start to obey. Stop making excuses for what God has already given grace for. You're not the wrong person for the job, you're the real person for the job. Because of your weakness, there will be a sign of God's glory.
"Did I stutter when I called you?"
No, He didn't. And neither should you when it's time to answer.
