Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Exodus 4:1-17

As our reading begins, Moses has just been called by the LORD to return to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites out of slavery. The interaction that follows between Moses and the LORD (in today’s reading from Exodus 4) shows us clearly how our insecurities and our comfort zones can inhibit our service to God. Moses received a perfectly clear word of instruction, coupled with miraculous abilities to empower him to fulfil the instruction, plus the promise from God, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (v.12). Yet, he still resisted God’s call: “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (v.13)

Moses had been away from Egypt and any form of community leadership for forty years. He had interacted more with sheep than with people, and his extended family was a closed and nomadic one. He had become comfortable in this very low-stress lifestyle. At the same time, his ability to communicate seems to have been compromised. His great education in Egypt was a distant memory, and he had probably found his Hebrew and Egyptian language capacity fading as he spoke mainly the local language of the Midianites for forty years. We know how easily we lose our ability to speak a language fluently if we don’t use it, and now Moses found that this added to his deep sense of insecurity at the thought of returning to Egypt in obedience to God.

In this situation it was not that Moses did not believe the promise of God or the power God so evidently displayed. It was that he was held captive by his own insecurities, fears and comfort zones.

Lord, my God, please liberate me from the stranglehold of my own comfort zone, insecurities and inadequacy. Help me to trust Your Truth and Your power, and to step out in obedience to Your call every day. Amen.