What Can You Be?

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" – Exodus 3:14 (English Standard Version)

In this often read story, Moses is out tending his sheep minding his own business when he notices a fire.  As he approaches the bush that is on fire a voice speaks and tells Moses to take off his sandals as he is on sacred ground.  Moses complies.  Then God tells him the big plan: you’re going to go to Pharaoh and lead your people out of slavery.  Moses replies, “Who am I that you’d want ME?”  After some discussion about that he then asks, “And just who are YOU?”

This is an exchange that we could well be having every day.  Who am I?  Who are you, O God?  You and God are inextricably bound to one another.  Whether we are consciously aware of the bond or not, God is ever alongside of us.  As the book of Jonah testifies, this bond is inescapable.  So, what impact does this awareness have on your day?   First, there is not a one of us who is completely capable, competent, and wise.  God has a bigger estimation of us than we can have of ourselves – even on our best day.  Up against that high estimation of our abilities we might all say, “Who am I?  How can you think I can do THAT?”  It’s pretty easy to get that God is who God is – defying all concept, definition, and mysteriously greater than we are capable of imagining.  So, some other questions might well be: Who are WE together?  Who am I with God?  Who would I be without God?  Which feels better to you?  Facing your day with our Infinite God working on your side, or slogging through it without that help?  What is God wanting you to do with all the assistance God is willing to give you?  Or, have you just settled for living within the smaller world that you can control and manage alone – content with your excuses?

I believe Moses could have walked away from the job God laid on him.  That is the quality of free will.  Moses chose to be persuaded by God.  On the other hand, it is obvious that God does not need thousands of Moses’ to be historically significant and epically famous.  But together, who can you be?  What does God want for the two of you today?

Prayer:

Lord, I’m sitting down with you for a few minutes here this morning.  Help me to feel what we can be together today.  Amen.