He will Speak

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

HE WILL SPEAK

Acts 7:30-34

30 "After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice: 32'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 33 "Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.'  

NIV

We now move right into and through the second forty years of the life of Moses and move right to the beginning of the last forty year of his life. This last forty begins with his call from God. There certainly could not be any question in the mind of Moses as to what God wanted him to do. There certainly could not be any doubt in the mind of Moses that it God who was calling him to this task. God made sure that he first got Moses attention with the burning bush then he was very clear about what he wanted Moses to do and that he would be with him all the way. From this portion of the history lesson Stephen is giving the Sanhedrin we get a very important life lesson. Moses certainly was not going to go back to Egypt and free his people on his own, he only went because God called him to do so. As followers of Christ, as believers we should have the very same mindset as Moses. We should not be doing something unless we are absolutely sure God has called us to do it. Of course that does not mean going to the grocery store, or home improvement store, or putting gas in the car, but this is referring to service for God. This could mean as to where we live, what church we become involved in, what kind of lifestyle, profession or occupation we have and what kind of ministry we participate in. If we are making all those choices based on what we want, or feel or think that is what God desires for us, then we might be off base a bit. It is evident the God made it very clear to Moses that it was he speaking, and that he was telling Moses what was it he wanted him to do. God has not changed. He still makes it very clear when he is speaking and he makes it very clear as to what he desires us to do. We do not have to guess, or assume anything and we should not make a move unless we know without any doubt God is speaking and what it is he is saying. Although we do not know for certain that it was God we closed the door on that first forty years of the life of Moses so that he would have to escape and end up at this place, we do know for sure that God knew where he was and that he was now ready to be the man God desired him to be and do what God desired him to do. We should be all about being the person God desires us to be and ready to be called to go, and do whatever he has called us to. Yes, Moses gave God a few excuses why he should not be the one to go and do. It may have been because he felt inadequate for the task, that in some sense could be seen as humble rather than as being disobedient or refusing the call of God. Moses needed reassurance and God gave it to him, and he did what he was called to do, in fact, Moses was by far a great man of God, doing mighty acts displaying the power of God in his life. If we act on our own ideas, our own desires, our own plans they will be nothing more the mere human efforts, but if we hear from God, and are called according to his purpose then we will go and do great things for God. We need to wait upon the Lord, be still and know that he is God, hearing his voice, being certain of his calling before we do anything with our life that is important. We need to see our burning bush, we need to hear the voice of the Spirit deep within our being. If we listen, he will speak.