“But Moses said, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Exodus 4:13

The history of Israel would be very different if Moses had not responded to the calling, however because of his step of faith he could see divine manifestations very few men on Earth were able to see. He faced the most powerful monarch of that time and witnessed how God dealt with his pride by making him bow his face and free all the Israelites that were being held captive in Egypt. He also saw Pharaoh and his army being destroyed by the Red Sea. The writer of the book of Hebrew expresses it this way, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned” (Hebrews 11:27-29).

Why was Moses asking God to send another man in his place? Moses hadn’t yet understood that God had trained him for forty years to fulfill this mission. God had worked on Moses’ character until he surrendered his whole life to the Lord. God is the best investor ever and He had not invested time in the life of Moses in order for him to turn his back whenever God would need him. Apart from leading the people of Israel for forty years through the desert, God also entrusted Moses with the responsibility to write the first five books of the Bible. God revealed the origin of things to this man and we owe gratitude to him because of his obedience. Now, we understand how the world was created. Also, God entrusted to Moses the design of the tabernacle and the law that would govern the nation of Israel. After knowing everything God did through this outstanding man of faith we can say God wasn’t wrong.

Even when God breaks down all the arguments in our minds, many times we say, “It is true, Lord. The world is in need; there aren’t enough preachers. We need to do your work.” But, we end up the prayer saying, “I’m going to pray for those who You are going to send.” The Lord wants to send you. You are the right person, the chosen one. It doesn’t matter if you think there are more intelligent, more beautiful, more exciting or better-trained people. God takes pleasure in choosing you. Let Him use your life to bless thousands of people.

Just like Moses, you are irreplaceable. God is looking for a vessel willing to be used by Him. He wants someone who will surrender their whole life. You can make the difference in this generation. The only thing you need to do is let the Holy Spirit take over your life to be that one who blesses others wherever you are. Perhaps, like Moses, you have experienced many internal struggles in the past. However, as an act of faith, decide today to believe that God has called you to be an instrument in His hands to do mighty deeds. Examine your own life to determine which arguments stop you from fulfilling God’s calling. Let Him use your life to bless thousands of people.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order to keep food on the table for this huge family, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day. He worked as a goldsmith but also took any job he could find in the neighborhood that paid. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of the children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally came to an agreement with each other. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines. They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, paid for his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht’s etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than even those of most of his professors. By the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.” All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat. Tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, “No …no …no …no.” Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, “No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look! Look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother, for me it is too late.” More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer’s hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world. It is more than likely that you, like many others, are familiar with at least one of Albrecht Durer’s works. You may even have a print hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother’s abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He simply called his powerful drawing “Hands.” But the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love “The Praying Hands.”

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“God renewed my strength, gave me vision, encouraged my faith and I will fulfill His mission.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Three.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

• Old Testament: Isaiah 56-58; Proverbs 29:1-14
• New Testament: Luke 24:13-27; Hebrews 12:1-13