Lesson From Moses

We remember Moses as a great man of God, used by God himself to deliver the children of Israel from the bondage and slavery of Egypt, and to be remembered for all generations to come, but is that how God found him? Before God called Moses from the burning bush to be the one to lead the great exodus, and even after Moses left for Egypt, he had several "character flaws." He was;

- a murderer Ex 2:12
- a fugitive Ex 2:15
- insecure Ex 3:11
- fearful Ex 4:3
- full of excuses Ex 4:10
- disobedient Ex 4:13
- dominated by his wife Ex 4:25
- cynical, skeptical Ex 5:22-23
- a whiner Ex 6:12

God was angry with Moses for asking if someone else could go, but acquiesced to Moses' request to use Aaron instead of him as the public speaker. God essentially said, "I'll tell you what to say, then you tell Aaron what to say." Moses apparently also lacked the faith and courage to work the signs that God told him to do (Ex 4:17), but Aaron didn't;

Ex 7:19 And the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron...
7:20 Aaron lifted up the rod...
8:5 And the Lord said to Moses, say to Aaron...
8:6 So Aaron stretched out his hand...
8:16 Then the Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron...
8:17 Aaron stretched out his hand...

God allowed Moses to see several miracles happen before his own eyes, and build his faith until God eventually gave him another chance to speak directly to Pharaoh.

Ex 8:20 Then the Lord said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes forth to the water; and say to him...

Moses begins interacting directly with Pharaoh from that point on.

Ex 8:26 And Moses said (to Pharaoh)...
Ex 9:1 Then The Lord said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh and tell him...

Moses then even has enough faith and confidence to begin working the miracles that God wanted him to do originally;

Ex 9:22 The Lord said to Moses, Stretch forth your hand...
9:23 Then Moses stretched forth his rod toward the heavens, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire (lightning) ran down to and along the ground, and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

Moses was not the perfect man of God when God called him. God was patient with Moses and helped him to mature and grow to become what God intended him to be.
The same is true for us. If we wait until we are perfect to start doing what God has called us to do, it will likely never happen, but God can and will use us just as we are if we only allow Him.

Speak God's Promises With Your Mouth

"When the Bible talks about meditation it's not telling you to 'empty your mind.' The Hebrew word for meditation in the Old Testament is the word hagah, which means to utter or mutter. So to hagah is to speak under your breath. Notice that the Lord told Joshua, 'This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth...' He did not say that it 'shall not depart from your mind.' The key to meditating on God's Word is not mental contemplation. It is speaking God's promise with your mouth!"

"You cannot have faith without speaking it. When you study Romans 10, you will notice that it says that 'the righteousness which is of the law...does...But the righteousness of faith speaks.' The law is about doing, whereas faith is about speaking. It is not enough to just know in your mind that you are righteous. It is not enough to just read this chapter or hear a sermon on righteousness and mentally agree that you are righteous. You need to open your mouth and say by faith, 'I am the righteousness of God in Christ.' This is where many believers are missing out on the blessing of Abraham."

-Joseph Prince, Unmerited Favor

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Romans 10:10 Confirms that the mouth is vitally important in receiving what God has for us, even salvation;
"for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

Romans 10:17 Confirms that our faith is increased as we hear the word of Christ, even from our own mouth!
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."