WEDNESDAY 30th November 1983

THE JOB IS TOO BIG FOR US

Reading:  Exodus 3:1-12                            English - Valerie Chinese - Raymond

The Burning Bush
1  Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2  And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
3  And Moses said, "I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
4  When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here am I."
5  Then he said, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
6  And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7  Then the LORD said, "I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings,
8  and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9  And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10  Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."
11  But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?"
12  He said, "But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain."

Reading:      Exodus   4:1,10,13                  English - Vivien Chinese - Cindy

1  Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'"

10  But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either heretofore or since thou hast spoken to thy servant; but I am slow of speech and of tongue."

13  But he said, "Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person."

COMMENTARY Margaret

God called Moses to lead the nation of Israel back from Egypt to their own country.  But Moses did not want the job.  He felt that he was unworthy and lacking the necessary skills.  It was as if Moses had read the job specifications and decided that he did not qualify for the job.

But Moses discovered that a weak man becomes strong when God takes over.  Moses discovered that if he lacked skill, God certainly did not.  Moses found out that he could do much more than he ever hoped or imagined because the Spirit of God worked through him.

There is no doubt that we have some talented people at World Vision of Hong Kong, but compared to the great possibilities which surround us, we sometimes feel lacking in ability.  There is so much that we could do, and so few people, so little time.  Too many people stretched too thinly.

However, If we are doing the work God himself has called us to do, we can have confidence that he will give us all the power we need.  Just as he used Moses despite his limitations, he can do much more through us than we ever hope or Imagine.  Let us work In that confidence and hope.

NEWS

PRAYER (say together)

Loving heavenly Father, when we are weak you are strong.  Help us to use the gifts you have given us In your service.  Take what little we have to give, and do great things so that your Name will be honoured.

In Jesus' Name we pray.

A-men