When God Speaks . . .
Moses was a shepherd of a flock of sheep, working for his father-in-law Jethro. It was there, out in the pasture with his sheep where the angel of the LORD appeared to him. Just like in the life of Moses, God speaks to us when we are just in the “thick” of doing our daily tasks.
(Exodus 3: 1-2)
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
Moses was a regular man, one whose life-work was important to the kingdom God, but Moses knew he was limited in his ability. That’s why he asked God the question whenever God gave His task to Moses, but still, Moses felt he was inadequate and maybe even a little scared in what God was leading him to do.
“Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
(Exodus 4: 10-11 NASB)
But the LORD said to him, “Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?”
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
“Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please Lord,”
See the difference.
Is God the LORD of us?
—OR—
Is God (kind of, sort of) the Lord of us?
Is GOD really the LORD (first-most position) of our life?
Do we exclaim: “LORD! LORD!” and then do as we please?
Do we exclaim: “FATHER lead us today,” and then go & do our own thing, disregarding the LORD’S direction?
“Please Lord, I have never been eloquent, . . . for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
See the complaint.
Moses did not need to explain to God the limitation Moses felt within his body.
- God created Moses.
- God saved Moses’ life when he was a baby, & God placed Moses inside Pharoah’s house when Moses was small.
- God spoke to Moses within the burning bush on an ordinary day when Moses was out in the pasture doing his daily job.
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
“neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant;”
See the way we seem to hang onto that which we “think” we cannot do.
See how we like to remind God, as if we “think” God needs to be reminded of our weakness.
- God spoke with Moses through a bush burning in the wilderness.
- God revealed Himself to His servant Moses, & for sure, Moses felt that was pretty awesome!
Nevertheless, when God speaks, He has a task for us to do!
When God reveals Himself to us, we need to be prepared to move & to do whatever the LORD tells us to do!
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
“But the LORD said to him, “Who has made the human mouth? Or who makes anyone unable to speak or deaf, or able to see or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?”
(Exodus 4: 11 NASB)
- It is God who made us!
- It is God who gave us our talents, abilities, skills, and spiritual gifts.
- It is God who makes a person blind or able to see.
- It is God who causes a person to be deaf or able to speak.
It is GOD, the LORD!
Whenever Almighty God lays a task upon our mind, upon our heart through His Holy Spirit, we must recognize from Whom it derives.
We must remember, nothing is ever about us but about God & His purpose to redeem the world.
“Is it not I, the LORD?”
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
God desires that we seek Him with a pure heart.
God desires that we seek Him first.
God knows what He has planned for us to do.
God knows what we can and cannot do because He is the Creator (of each one of us).
God has a good work for us to do.
God has created us just for that: to know His Son in relationship & to walk within His Holy Spirit as we go.
God asks us: Will you align your heart with mine?
God asks us to trust and follow Him!
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
“The LORD is my shepherd,
(Psalm 23:1 NASB)
I will not be in need.”
The LORD is our shepherd!
There is absolutely nothing we will ever lack!
That’s right—absolutely lack nothing—when we choose to walk with HIM!
“He lets me lie down in green pastures;
(Psalm 23:2 NASB)
He leads me beside quiet waters.”
GOD makes us lie down in growing, green pastures.
HE leads us beside quiet, peaceful waters.
It is GOD! It is GOD! It is GOD HIMSELF who leads us!
“He restores my soul:
(Psalm 23:3 NASB)
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.”
- The FATHER refreshes our soul.
Hallelujah!
It is our FATHER GOD!
- HE guides us along the right paths—all for HIS name’s sake—so the world will come to know WHO we follow.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
(Psalm 23:4 NASB)
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Even though we must walk through the darkest valley where we continually fear the unknown, it is GOD who leads us.
Let us not fear the evil one or whatever darts he shoots toward us.
- It is GOD who is with us.
- It is GOD who hands us our rod and our walking staff.
- It is GOD who we lean upon, and we are to be comforted because of HIS promise.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
(Psalm 23:5 NASB)
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.”
- YOU—GOD—prepare the table.
- YOU—GOD—prepare us for the tasks you would have us do.
Even as we face those who oppose YOUR good work, help us remember we are YOUR anointed ones, chosen, and saved forevermore!
- YOU—GOD—anoint our heads with YOUR precious holy oil.
- YOU—GOD—fill our cup with YOUR goodness.
- YOU—GOD—overflow our hearts with YOUR precious love, protection, and care.
“Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life.
(Psalm 23:6 NASB)
And my dwelling will be in the house of the LORD forever.”
- Surely, it is GOD’S goodness that sustains us as we go through life.
- Surely, it is GOD’S faithfulness that follows us all throughout this life.
- Surely, it is GOD’S promise that HE will bring us home to dwell with HIM forevermore when this—our earthly life—is complete.
Thank YOU GOD for saving a lamb such as me.
Thank YOU GOD for sending YOUR ONLY SON as our Redeemer & Savior.
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?
May we listen to God this day.
“Is it not I, the LORD?”
- May we love the LORD, our shepherd.
- May we follow in HIS steps.
- May we not fight against HIS direction.
- May we allow HIM to anoint us with HIS perfect oil.
- May we know the sound of HIS voice.
- May we not wander away from HIS presence.
- May we follow close behind HIM.
- May we obediently go wherever HE leads.
- May we not fear where HE has us go.
- May we totally place our trust in HIM.
- May we remember—We need the GOOD SHEPHERD.
- May we become serious today in our answer to this all-important question:
When God Speaks, What Is Our Response?