In Exodus 6, Moses repeats his complaint that God has chosen the wrong man for the job of leading His people out of Egypt.  He is clumsy of speech, Moses says.  Neither Pharaoh nor his own people will listen to him, he thinks.  In his opinion, he has no credibility.  Furthermore, his people are no longer interested in leaving, but only to be relieved of their suffering as abused slaves.

The Great Commander who issued Moses’ orders had previously said, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go!  I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”  (Exodus 4:11-12)

Moses’ concern is also our natural response, if we focus on our human resources, rather than the supernatural empowerment of God within us.  The Lord tried to help Moses beyond this thinking by highlighting the new name by which He addresses him – Yahweh, the Lord, their personal, caring, hearing, seeing, empathetic Father. Yahweh speaks to Moses from a different posture than that of El Shaddai, God Almighty, by which He was known by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then He reminds Moses of all that relationship entails:  I will free you, rescue you, redeem you, claim you as My own, and give you the land I promised you.  He speaks reassuringly to Moses, as a very personal God, who will Himself see to their perpetual care.

Other wonderful giants in Bible history have had mission-threatening fears and self-doubt, such as Jonah and Jeremiah.  Isaiah is encouraging:

” But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”                                Isaiah 43:1-3

Help us, Lord, not to wring our hands over our human powerlessness.  Help us to realize the battle is not ours to fight, but Yours.  Help us to lean into You, watching expectantly for Your power to work through us to accomplish what You desire.