There can be times when we may feel that past failure, sin
or fear will keep us from stepping into or fulfilling the calling of God for
our life. Fear of failure, inadequacy
and guilt can be huge stumbling blocks but our God is mightier than any of our
sins and failings. The Bible is full of stories of people who felt inadequate
or who in human eyes had disqualified themselves from ministry yet God had not
finished with them despite their failings and weaknesses.
When God met Moses at the burning bush, he told him to go
back to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. Moses argued with God five times about his
inadequacy and every time God gave him the words and signs necessary. Finally
God’s anger burned against Moses and as a concession he said that Aaron could
go with him to speak to Pharaoh.
By the time of the tenth plague though Moses didn’t need
anyone to speak on his behalf because his confidence in God meant he was more
than adequate for the task. This stood him in good stead for leading the people
out of Egypt, crossing the Red Sea and dealing with a difficult and rebellious
group of Israelites for 40 years. Moses
had asked God at the burning bush to send someone else but God knew that Moses
was the man for the job.
Moses’ brother Aaron was one who could also have been
disqualified from his calling of being the first high priest of the nation. While Moses was up the mountain for 40 days
and nights Aaron led the nation into idolatry by making and worshipping the
golden calf. Not long after that debacle
God appointed him as high priest. Most
of us would have thought Aaron had blown it irrevocably but not God. He had
called Aaron to the priesthood.
Or what about David, the great king, the man after God’s own
heart who committed adultery and murder? Surely he should have been stoned to
death but when confronted with his sin, he repented before God writing surely
one the most beautiful psalms, Psalm 51.
Peter let Jesus down by denying him three times on the very
night when he could have used a friend. Yet Peter became one of the leading
apostles in the early church. And Paul persecuted and murdered the early
Christians yet when confronted by the love and grace of God he stepped into his
God given destiny to be a great apostle and author of much of the New
Testament.
God has a calling on each of our lives and whilst we may not
be called to lead the nation or be a great apostle, we have a unique and
important role to play. The devil would like to remind us frequently of our
sin, failure and inadequacies but God would remind us that those he has called
he will also equip. His love and grace are always more than enough to overcome
our shortcomings.
Next time you feel you have irrevocably blown it just
remember these great men of God who fell or were overcome by their insecurities
and recall what they achieved. If they
can do it, so can we.
