Exodus 4

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 slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf 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.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and He said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we read of people in the Bible provoking God to anger, we should look at what they did so that we do not make the same mistakes.  Moses’ reluctance to obey God made Him angry.  Moses attempted to resist God’s call by “reminding” God of all the resources he did not possess:  “I don’t have the reputation!” “I don’t have the credibility!” “I can’t speak eloquently enough.”  The Bible tells us that “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” (v.14) because of all of his excuses, which showed his lack of both faith and obedience.  God wanted Moses to look at his abilities from a different perspective.  He wanted Moses to see things from God’s viewpoint.  It was not about what Moses didn’t have.  It was, however, about God’s ability to use what Moses did have.  “What’s that in your hand?” (v.2) and “Who has made man’s mouth?” (v.11) were the questions that mattered.  Sometimes God’s will for us may seem too difficult, but remember that God wants us to see things from His perspective.  He does not want us to focus on what little we have, but to focus on Him and trust Him to provide the rest.  Remember to stop trying to remind Him of what you don’t have, and trust Him to take what you do have to fulfill His calling on your life.