2008-08-02 - Who am I?

 Isaiah 40:28, 29, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the Earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power."

Recently, in the devotionals, we looked at Aaron's words on behalf of the Moses and the Lord, "Let my people go." (Free Children devotional) Something else that stands out in this section of Scripture is the Lord's use of Moses, or for that matter, the Lord's use of anyone, at any time. Why didn't the Lord simply tell Pharaoh Himself, "Let My people go?" Why use Aaron, or for that matter, why use anyone?

One thing that every follower of Christ should know about the Lord is that He hides His power, often, in weakness. It is often that we see, both in Scripture, and in the history of the Church that the Lord uses the most unsuspecting and unsuspected means to accomplish His purpose. Consider Gideon in Judges 6. Gideon is given a visitation, and told that he is a "valiant warrior." I can see the surprise on Gideon's face, maybe even a sheepish smile - replying, "My family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house," Judges 6:15. So it is with the Lord. He uses those who by the worlds standards are weak, and He makes them strong. His power is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

While Aaron is the mouthpiece for Moses in the delivery of Israel out of Egypt, the clear reading of the account of the Exodus is that Moses was the leader. It is something that doubles back to God - double honor that He used Moses. Moses, great as he is seen to be in Scripture, viewed himself as completely inadequate. This gives God all the more glory. Has the Lord used you? I suspect that you never felt that it was your great abilities that enabled you to do anything of significance for the Lord. I suspect that, looking back at how the Lord has used you, you feel that you scarcely had such abilities. I suspect you are certain that it was only in the Lord's strength that you were used unto His glory. Has the Lord not used you? Do you feel as if you have all sorts of hidden abilities that have been left untapped all your life long? Many of us do, but here is my question, and I say this to myself as well. Could it be that we are trying to serve the Lord in our own strength, rather than resting entirely in His strength? This will never do. The Lord uses those who are meek, lowly, and humble of heart. The Lord uses the feeble to illustrate His power.

He did this with Moses. When God comes to Moses in the burning bush, Moses is sure that there has been a mistake. His reply is, "Who am I?" (Exodus 3:11) Oh, that this would be our mindset. Many will tell us to reach for the stars, and to seek to be bright and shining lights. I only encourage you to seek to be used of the Lord in great ways, but I am going to suggest, from the example of Moses, how to be great in the eyes of the Lord. If you would be great in God's eyes, be low in your own eyes, and set both your eyes and your heart upon the greatness of God. This frame of mind is befitting a follower of Christ who owes his/her all, our very selves to the Lord.

Tell me of your frailty rather than your abilities, and I will better suspect you to be the kind that the Lord will use to His glory. Are you empty? The Lord can fill an empty vessel. Have you found that your own power is weakness? Jesus Christ's pleasure is making the weak strong, restoring hope to the hopeless, forgiving the unforgivable, and making much of those servants that think themselves little. In this, He is glorified. May He be glorified in our lives this very day.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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