Only Believe, Part Two

See “Only Believe, Party One” for first half of article.

Moses: Pharaoh’s Child Turned Coward

Suggested Reading: Exodus 4:1-17

Moses knew well the courts of the Pharaoh. He had grown up there as Pharaoh’s son, enjoying all the pleasures a king’s child could imagine. But when the time came for him to lead his countrymen out of bondage, he trembled with fear. He couldn’t speak well! The thought of stuttering and stammering when standing before the pharaoh and his advisers was humiliating.

God, of course, didn’t care about Moses’ speech impediment. Eloquence wasn’t a qualification. Though God got angry with Moses for his unbelief, in His mercy, God suggested taking his brother Aaron along for vocal support. Thankfully, Moses summoned some courage and made his way to the Egyptian border.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God’s not interested in hearing about what we can’t do. He simply wants to know what we’re willing to give Him. His ability to use us depends on our availability. Any excuse we may give to state our inadequacy is feeble next to His power. He’ll take what we have and use it for His glory if we’ll let Him.

Rahab: The Woman with a Bad Reputation

Suggested Reading: Joshua 2

Belonging to an idolatrous people, Rahab already had one strike against her. To add to her “inadequacy,” she was a prostitute. She held little hope that the Israelites, much less God Himself, would show her favor. But she did not let that move her.

God led the spies to Rahab’s house because He saw her faith in Him. Instead of turning them away out of fear or intimidation, she welcomed them in and even haggled for her family’s life: “You save me, I’ll save you.” Just as the spies promised, God saved her household when the walls fell. She then rose from a world of harlotry and became the wife of one of the two spies, Salmon. She later became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth. Ruth gave birth to Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of King David. From the line of King David, Jesus, the Savior of the World, was born (Matthew 1:5-6). Her name is even mentioned in the Great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:30-31.

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord”  (I Corinthians 1:26-30).

All things are possible when God’s transforming power is at work. Forgiveness is found when trust is put in the Blood of Jesus. God doesn’t rule out one person, no matter how tarnished their past. When the world sees ugly, God sees stunning. When man says failure, God says victor. When the devil cries guilty, God cries innocent. It’s the Blood of Jesus that God sees, a beautiful sign that declares our innocence so we can go and do what He’s called us to do!

Many other “unqualified” characters can be found in the Bible: Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Deborah, and Saul, just to name a few. All of them had limitations according to the world’s standards. But despite their weaknesses, they overcame and accomplished the miraculous. We can, too, if we only believe!