NancyinBelize

Gotta say this just cuz everyone else has clearly and completely answered the question so there is not a need to repeat those things... BUT.... no matter where we are "missionaries" for the Kingdom, for God's glory, there is always more work to do. So we, the leaders, post job descriptions and try to recruit people to fill in roles to make the work that we think God wants to happen, successful and completed according to his will. BUT as a leader, I can tell you, there are many many (many , many , many) times that we pray and think God is calling someone to a task and they say, " Wait til the children are older" or " I am just too busy now I have to say "no". or "I have too much on my plate" or some other career oriented conflict. I specifically have prayed and prayed about a few needs in the ministry here and I "know" that God has called some people to those tasks, but, they remain unfilled because LIFE just keeps rolling along and it is really hard to STOP and change routes. People get into a routine, they have a way they live, they like the way their life is going... or at least it is comfortable and predictable. People, maybe even Moses, (though I can't pretend to know what was going on in his head) tend to like the status quo even if it is not great. The alternative is change which most people are resistant to. (Come on Mose... pack up your bags, gather your family, quit your job, kiss Jethro good bye and head to Egypt) is quite a lifestyle change. So to truly grasp what makes answering God's call so difficult, for Moses and for the average Joe, we have to grasp the tremendous faith it takes to literally drop the nets, the fish, the boat and the family...right where they are.. and follow.

Thanks for referencing the Philipians quote. That was a helpful reminder of how this thread appears in other places of God's word. The whole concept of building the Kingdom is not about what skills we bring but what THE LORD can do through us. Moses was too self-involved...his issues, his problems his strengths and his weaknesses. The great I Am promised to be with him (Exodus 3;12). There are no valid excuses. "Trust and obey..for there's no other way." everything else is disoberdience and lack of humble faith in the "great power that we have in Jesus' name." Thanks Kristi.

I agree with you Cyndilee. I think Moses is trying to argue with God because he does not think he is qualified for the mission. He is old (80). He is not in good rapport with the Hebrews. He is a wanted man in Egypt for murder. He has been out of the country for 40 years. Moses is thinking, surely God, you must have a man better qualified than me for this job. But God looks at the heart... God wants a man (woman) who says "I can't, I don't know how, help me." That is true humilty: depending fully on God. Praise God for choosing the simple to confound the wise.

Interesting comment Ivory Eagle.... that one negative can cancel all of the positives. Cyndilee: I liked what you said that it is interesting that Moses did not try to invoke justice through some legal means at his disposal from his elite status. why? You gave some reasons.. the order of the day was not democratic... so he knew his voice would not be heard and he might even suffer for raising the issue. BUT more than that, it was too slow. Moses saw the Hebrew slave suffering now and he could not wait and watch anymore. Yes he was impulsive, decisive, and just unwilling to look the other way when he saw someone suffer unjustly. I admire Moses for his sense of mercy, fairness. I'm looking forward to see how his sense of justice plays out in the rest of the story. There is no justification for murder, but one agrument for Moses is that he was fighting not for his own rights (complaining he was treated unfairly) but rather he was fighting for others who were suffering. Americans march into foreign countries on a regular basis killing people in the name of fighting for the rights of some oppressed group. So as much as we abhor the idea that Moses killed an Egyptian in cold blood, and it is immoral, we cannot in honestly deny that it is a familar justification (impulsive or otherwise) that even elected US leaders apply regularly. Note that this fighting for the rights of the oppressed theme appears again at the well, as the good Dr. noted. Hmmm Stand around and watch the poor girls bullied by the shepherd boys, or step in and stop it. Moses may be "a reluctant leader" but he is not a wimp. He acts with heart and courage. Most people would not have gotten involved at the well.... they would walk away or just wait til it is over. Go Go Moses! You got heart!

Hi I'm Nancy. I teach deaf children and pastor a Deaf Mennonite Church in Belize. I have a deaf foster daughter (age 12), a dog, and two cats. I also love managing the school garden where my students and others raise many vegetables year round. I praise God for this opportunity to learn with you all and ask for grace and patience as we share.

Hi: I teach deaf children and pastor a Deaf Church in Belize. This is my first Bible Study online. I chose James because we will be using James for our VBS and I want to dig into it a bit more. I'm excited to see how God uses this study to make my heart more like His. Nancy