By Not Known
In today’s passage, Moses is seen to question or doubt God for choosing him to lead His people out of Egypt. Even after his encounter with God through the burning bush, God’s revelation of His name “I AM,” the provision of the staff, the miracle of the leprous hand as well as the promised miracle of water from the Nile turning to blood, it seemed to be still not enough for Moses to be convinced. Finally, God says to him, “Who has made man’s mouth … Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say” (Ex. 4:11-12). Even with this promise, Moses still pleaded with God, and eventually Aaron was sent to be his mouthpiece.
Throughout salvation history, God has appointed men and women to speak forth His words to others, such as the judges and prophets of the Old Testament. To Jeremiah, he said, “If you return, then I will restore you—Before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become my spokesman” (Jer. 15:19). Jesus, in describing and promising the Holy Spirit after His ascension, encouraged His disciples about standing in front of the authorities for the sake of His name, “do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matt. 10:19-20). Paul in his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, described his primary ministry given by God, “For I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
Where might you be called to be God’s mouthpiece? Where has God placed you to be a witness and testify of the gospel of God’s grace? Perhaps it might be in your family, to pre-believing parents, siblings or relatives. Perhaps it might be in your school or workplace, your army camp or even to your next-door neighbours and your community. Might there be a word from the Lord or an encouragement from Scripture that you could share to bless and minister to someone hurting? Or is there a situation or circumstance that you are to speak of to affirm God’s biblical principles or gently rebuke or correct someone or something? Maybe like Moses, we might have our hangups, doubts, questions and outright fears, but we can have the assurance that God through His Spirit speaks to and through us, and guided by Scripture and godly wisdom, He will give us the right words and teach us what to do and say. If God can speak to Balaam even through his donkey, what more can we do but walk in faith and obedience, and respond like Balaam, “But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth” (Num. 22:38).