Humility and Delayed Obedience

0:00Humility and delayed obedience by Darcy Fuqua Moses said to the Lord, Pardon your servant, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slower speech and tongue. The Lord said to him, Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them death 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 chapter 4 verses 10-12 At what point does our insecurity and our calling become disobedience? While studying Exodus, I read a question that struck a chord with me. Was Moses' focus on his weaknesses always genuine? Or was he delaying obedience?

1:05And then I read the words, delayed obedience is still disobedience. I felt so convicted by those words. In what God has called me to do, whether parenting, teaching or writing, I question my abilities a lot. I wear insecurity on my sleeve and write it off as a humble approach to the assignment. But if I'm being honest, I have also used it as an excuse because I don't want to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I feel unqualified, confused, and sometimes just plain tired. My disobedience is perfectly packaged as preparation, perfection, and procrastination. Let's wrap the box with a neatly folded bow of worry and doubt while we are at it.

2:07Then pen the word humility on the label. I am no different than Moses. I continually burn my questions in securities, worries, and hesitation to the Lord as he calls me to walk an unknown path of obedience. While Moses continually questions the how, who, and what of his call to obedience, God reassures Moses that he will be with him. God confirms his identity as the I am as Moses continues to question his own identity. The Lord steps into Moses' insecurities with provision and the reminder of his authority as creator of all. He fills the gap of Moses' faith with signs and miracles. God is patience with the wrestling. Only when Moses asks the Lord to be excused from this call does God's patience run dry.

3:12Yet he already planned for Aaron to step in and go with his brother. In Exodus chapter 4 verse 14, God tells Moses that Aaron is already on his way. For every question, God is the answer. There is no pre-qualifications other than a willing servant's heart. He equips the call and orders their steps. Friend, biblical humility is holy and a necessary posture in the kingdom for selfless service. It is a beautiful attitude of the heart that keeps us grounded, but humbleness can also be used as a crutch to delay us from walking into his glorious purpose for us. While we must be careful not to let confidence slip into pride, we must be fully confident in God and trust his process.

4:13He never asks us to do the job on our own, but he does ask us to shift our focus from ourselves towards him and the others that we are to serve. Have you settled into insecurity or fear that has kept you from pursuing what God has called you to? Name those insecurities and fears out loud, then ask God to help you move past these hurdles. As humans, we want to know the path before we take a step, but God asks us to step without sight. It is a test of walking by faith and trusting God, and there is a reward on the other side of obedience far greater than we can imagine. What is the next step you can take to walk out your calling?