So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:5–8
When God called Moses from the bush and commanded him to call Israel out of Egypt, Moses offered one reason after another for why he was not the man for this errand. He pleaded, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13, ESV). Moses was undoubtedly very much in favor of the idea of liberating Israel, but he just didn’t see how he (an 80-year-old shepherd) could possibly be of any help to God in getting this done. I believe that there are times for all of us when we feel incapable of doing what God has sent us to do. The fact is, however, that God knows our abilities and handicaps better than we know them ourselves, and we might be surprised what we can do when we finally decide to roll up our sleeves and try! Instead of having the attitude that says, “Send someone else,” let us adopt the attitude that says, “Here am I, send me.”
There are times when we feel inadequate to do what God expects of us. Moses feared he would not be able to answer the people’s questions (Exodus 3:13), that they would not believe him (4:1), that he was too slow of speech (4:10). He also felt that his opportunity to deliver Israel had passed. As a child he was trained in the knowledge of the Egyptians (Acts 7:20–22). He even thought at one time that God would use him from his lofty position to deliver his people from bondage, but when this didn’t happen, he fled to Midian and became a shepherd (vv 23–29). When God called him to deliver Israel, he was 80 years old (Exodus 7:7), had no clout in Pharaoh’s court, and had probably forgotten much of what he had learned as a youth. Moses felt that someone else would be better suited for the job now. “Who am I?” he asked God (Exodus 3:11). Perhaps you may feel inadequate for the task God has given you. Perhaps you feel you are past your prime or that someone else would be better suited for the job. Consider the fact that God didn’t call Moses when Moses thought he was ready. He called Moses when he felt weak, because it was then that God could better demonstrate His own strength.
We need to realize that God knows our abilities better than we do ourselves. God never doubted Moses’ success, because He was going to be with Him (Exodus 4:11–12). Moses didn’t think he could be persuasive, but he became one of the most persuasive men in human history (cf. Luke 16:31). Gideon felt unfit also (Judges 6:15), but God said, “I will be with you” (v 16). Jeremiah felt inadequate (Jeremiah 1:5), but God said, “I am with you” (v 8). Are you good at making excuses? Let us adopt the attitude that says, “Here am I! Send me.” If we will go where He sends, He will go with us, and the results may surprise us!