It’s Not You, It’s Me
The Story of Moses
Exodus 3:10
Let me ask you a question this morning. Let’s say that you were once involved in a dating relationship with someone and that you had spent a lot of time together over several months. You believed that the relationship was going well when one day, out of the blue, that special someone said, “I don’t think that we should date anymore.”
For a lot of people, maybe even most, the initial shock of the situation is often voiced in a flurry of questions. “Did I do or say something wrong?” “Have I made you angry?” “What can I do, how can I change so that we can stay together.”
Then it comes, the “It’s not you. It’s me.” line.
When faced with life-altering news like that, our first inclination is to consider the implication for…me. How does this affect my plans for tomorrow. We’re like the lyrics to the Carly Simon song, “You’re so vain. I’ll bet you think this song is about you…”
Moses was just like the rest of us. He wasn’t talking relationship with his girlfriend, his conversation was about God’s call to serve him in ministry. But the jist was the same: what about me?
In the course of their conversation God would make abundantly clear who our call centers on.
It’s Not About The Call of Others
Exodus 3:13-18
Wednesday night our youth pastor met with some other leaders. He spent some time watching how another ministry does things, looking for inspiration and good ideas.
Next month I’ll be going to a prayer summit if the Lord allows me and one of the things I’ll be searching for is ways to help our church grow in certain areas. I’ll go to a class or two, ask some questions, see some other things.
We do that – compare what we’re doing or where we’re going to others who are similar in nature. It’s human nature to look and see what’s going down on the other side of that fence. But understand today: that’s not what the call of God on your life is about. What other people are doing or where they are going is not the same as your call. What they might think or say or believe has no real bearing what God is calling you to do.
Moses’ stated concern here in Exodus 3 was not, “Well God, I’d like to see some ID because I’m not sure you’re really who you say you are.” No, his concern was that his peers, his contemporaries, his family and friends wouldn’t believe in him. He was making a comparison and saying, “There aren’t any other guys coming in saying they heard from ‘God’. They’re going to say I’m crazy or ask, ‘What God are you talking about?’ and I’m not ready to deal with that kind of rejection.
God says, “Moses, it’s not you we’re talking about. It’s me.” Another leader of Israel would experience something similar a long time down the road.
1 Samuel 8:6-8 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
When God begins to deal with your heart, he may call you to work with the hungry or minister in a jailhouse or serve in the nursery or drive a bus. No matter where you’re called there will be people who will wonder, some will question, and others will flat out reject that it’s God’s will at all. But when it comes to God’s call on your life, it’s not about comparing your call to someone else’s. The call of God on your life is about God.
It’s Not About Those We’re Called To
God states matter of factly, “The elders of Israel will listen to you.” Let God worry about confirming your call to others. Remember what we saw last week: We need to go where He sends us, say what He tells us and do what we’re instructed. The rest is in God’s hands.
Exodus 3:18-22
Not only is it not about the call of others, the people we’re called to are not the driving force behind our mission.
“I will stretch out my hand…”
“I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed…”
This assignment was not based on the ability of Moses to convince the king of Egypt of the truth of the message. God wasn’t depending on the people in Egypt being awestruck because of Moses’ burning bush experience. In fact, there was no expectation that the people involved would do anything outside of what people can normally do.
In Mark 13 Jesus teaches his friends about what will happen toward the end of earth’s history. Look at what he says:
Mark 13:9-11
Did you see that? The gospel must be preached to all nations. If there’s anything extraordinary for us to do at all, that’s it. In order for the other things to take place, God will wait until every nation has an opportunity to hear about Jesus. Many will face difficult situations in accomplishing that task, even great persecution. But still in that the expectation is not on people but on God. “Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
Our call is not about comparing ourselves to others who are called and it’s not about the people we are called to. But here’s the most amazing thing:
It’s Not Even About Us
Understand something, as we study the life of Moses you’re going to see that what Hebrews 11 tells us is true: He was a man of great faith. But he was flawed too. Every one made up of flesh and blood has those flaws inside.
Moses worried that his extended family, the leaders of his people would reject his calling and laugh at his pronouncement of God’s will. He was sure that Pharaoh wouldn’t have the time of day for his message. But his biggest worry was contained within his first words to God:
Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Who am I, God? How in the world can I possibly be the one you’re choosing to do this seemingly impossible job?
Your heart might just resonate with that. You might read that and think, “Yeah, God. I know how that dude feels! You’re asking more of me that I’m really ready to take on right now. After all, you know I’ve got a busy life right now and this seems like a lot more than I can do.”
Maybe you know right now that God is knocking on your door asking you for something you’re not ready to give. Or you’ve been there before. To every Moses and Brian down through history God gives this reply: “You thought I meant for you to do that alone? Oh no, ‘I will be with you.’”
Do you see that? Our call or mission or challenge or job or whatever other word you want to use is not about us at all. Not our abilities or resources or good looks. None of that! This thing your Father is developing in you is one more opportunity for Him to prove that He’s the God of the universe. It’s about people coming to know the one true and living God.
Exodus 3:12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Why does God work in his “mysterious ways” and take crazy people like Tim Smith or passionate people like Susan Jones or quiet people like – well I don’t guess we have any of those - or outgoing people like George Baker or silly ones like me and put us in challenging situations that take us outside our comfort zone? So that people can see he’s God.
There’s a little Moses in most of us. We’ve gotten the wrong impression sometimes that stuff in the church of Jesus Christ is about what we want or need or are comfortable with. Armed with that philosophy we can then craft pretty convincing arguments about why we aren’t involved in areas of ministry God has prepared us for.
But let’s set ourselves free from that once and for all. This is God’s church and it has been and always will be about Him. We’re all here today because He brought us here. Some of us were aware of that when we came, others are finding out. His purpose for it all, every bit of it, is to let as many people as possible see Him for who He really is – a loving God who wants a relationship with us so we can have the best life possible here today and after this life ends.
Whatever mission you’re on for Him or whatever He’s calling you to do next, He says, “I will be with you. It’s not you, it’s me.”
Respond to Him this morning. Show Him your willingness to be used and acknowledge your faith in Him as God today.
