One of the greatest threats to great accomplishments is insecurity of one’s own ability. Many great men and women have been lost in the shadows of despair because they doubted their own ableness to do extraordinary things. Moses’ first excuse after God commissioned him to go to Egypt (Exodus 3) is exactly this. His question is not asked for a response, but it expresses Moses’ pessimistic thoughts about himself. Later he would say something similar to God: “Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?” (Exodus 6:12). Evidently, Moses struggled with doubt, but it was not a justifiable reason for Moses to stay home.
Many Christians look at evangelism and could never see themselves performing such a task because they do not think they have the skills to do so. They may look at their:
Lack of knowledge.
Past failure.
Secondary skills.
Forty years before his encounter with God, Moses was said to have “supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not” (Acts 7:25). Could it have been this instance that led Moses to 40 years of self-doubt? Was it this premature and untimely action that took Moses away into the wilderness, which filled a middle-aged man with doubt and despair? Truly, when looking inside alone and taking upon the task without divine guidance leads to ruin and disappointment. Little do many know that if they would only look up would they find their answer.
Moses looked in the wrong place. He used the first person-singular pronoun three times in Exodus 3:11. Moses looked to himself instead of God and because of that he saw weakness, failure, and imperfection. But God changed the focus (Exodus 3:12). It was not about who Moses was—it was about what God could do through Him. He was the I AM (Exodus 3:14). God promised him disappointment (Exodus 3:19) and success (Exodus 3:20), but such triumph would only come if Moses let God use him. While Moses’ words may have rung of humility, they lacked one important element—faith!
If Christians would remember their sufficiency is of God (2 Corinthians 3:5) and of not themselves, they would be more apt and prepared to take the Gospel to the world. Instead of looking to their own worthiness, abilities, and talents, they could be successful if they would allow God to work through them. If they do this, Christians will give an excuse to evangelize instead of from evangelizing. Moses could only do all things through God; Christians can only do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Great things are accomplished when faith is involved (Hebrews 11:33-37). It is the God of heaven that works in us (Philippians 2:13). By His grace we are able to do what we can (1 Corinthians 15:10). Only God can give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). True, you are not good enough to accomplish great things alone; thankfully our God helps us fill the empty space. As Allen Webster noted "when we do our best, His grace covers the rest."
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