We often find ourselves lacking the strength, creativity, energy or whatever else we need to handle a situation at hand. This is true in our everyday life of work, relationships, parenting, etc., but also in our spiritual life as we seek to grow, learn, change, and make disciples. Exodus 3 teaches us that the resources we need to fulfill our calling are not found in us, but in God.

Moses encounters God in the burning bush (v. 2, 4) and is called into God’s purposes. He will be God’s mouthpiece before Pharaoh (v. 10). Across Scripture and still today, this is always God’s pattern: when he meets people, he calls them into his purposes (see Ex 19, 1 Pet 2:9). 

Moses is keenly aware that he doesn’t have the pedigree (v. 11), the knowledge of God (v. 13), the connections (4:1), or the speaking ability (4:10-11) to do what God asks. No wonder he pleads, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (v. 13). There are probably times you and I have said that too. But what Moses came to realize, and we need to remember, is that the resources we need to fulfill our calling aren’t found in us, but in God.

The LORD reveals his “name” as “I Am who I Am” which is a pun on “Yahweh” in the Hebrew (v. 13). This name reminds Moses and us that God is infinite, eternal, almighty, and all good. It is his resources that will enable us to fulfill his calling. He promises to supply us through his presence (v. 12), his power (v. 19-20), his gifts which confirm his Word (4:1-9), and his grace (v. 7-8, 9, 16). 

He knows our shortcomings and sin (v. 1), how we’ve been sinned against (v. 16), and he has “come down to deliver” us (v. 7-8, John 14:10). So, trust in him and seek his resources because the resources we need to fulfill our calling are not found in us, but in God.