Humility

Moses must have seemed like an unlikely candidate for an inferiority complex. Raised in privilege as an adopted son in Pharaoh's household, he "was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action" (Acts 7:22). He even believed at one point that he was destined to be Israel's deliverer. Yet when Moses tried to deliver Israel by his own strength and strategy the outcome was murder, rejection, and exile (Ex. 2:11-15). It is not surprising that when God finally commanded Moses to return to Egypt and rescue his fellow Israelites, he balked and asked: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

Moses is not an isolated case. The Bible contains many examples of those who initially questioned their own ability and yet were used mightily by God. Gideon didn't think he could be used by God because he was the least member of Manasseh's weakest clan (Judg. 6:15). Jeremiah complained that he was too young and unskilled in speech to serve as God's prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:6). Esther was afraid that she might be put to death if she attempted to intervene on Israel's behalf (Est. 4:11). Simon Peter believed he was too sinful to be used by God (Luke 5:8). None of these believers overstated their own weakness or the obstacles they faced. The challenges were as great as they imagined. God's power, however, was far greater.

Today in the Word, Aug. 2003, p.29