Who asks for directions in modern families? Women tend to find it easy. Men, not so much, for it is part of a man’s nature to strive to be strong and independent, determined not to need anyone else’s help.
For 40 years Moses had been on autopilot, asking directions of no one. He had flipped a switch, disengaging from life and the plan of God.
Moses had to get off autopilot.
Exodus 3:4-17 tells of Moses finding his directions in front of a burning bush, where God revealed himself. God called from the bush, “Moses, Moses.”
God knew Moses. He called him by name. Moses may have disengaged from God, but God hadn’t disengaged from Moses.
Then, if the burning bush hadn’t yet gotten Moses’ attention, what it said should have. God said, “Take off your shoes.”
Sometimes we want God to come down from heaven and just take care of things. That was exactly what God was doing for Moses. God placed Moses’ hand on the autopilot switch and told him to reengage in life. He told Moses he was to go and speak for him.
Moses immediately told God he couldn’t, citing a list of excuses, as if God didn’t already know those things. God’s response? He would be with him. It was that simple.
You’d think Moses would fall to his face and immediately give in. Not Moses. His response?
“Tell me your name.”
God gave him his covenant name, Yahweh, calling out, “I Am who I Am.”
Moses still wasn’t ready to give in. He resisted the change God had offered him, saying, “What if they don't believe?”
This next part is pivotal to what the story of Moses teaches us. God asked what was in Moses’ hand. It was a simple staff, but the staff was so much more than a staff. It was Moses’ identity. God said to throw it down, for Moses had to turn loose of his grip on the autopilot switch. He had to let God put him back in life.
Moses’ staff became a serpent. After he picked it up, it became a staff again, but it had become so much more. It was now the rod of God, identifying Moses as the leader of God’s people.
What we throw down for God, he changes into something he can use.
When we pick up what God has asked us to turn loose of, it will be different. God will be able to use it, and we will be filled with his power.
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