I was taught Latin for four years between the ages of eight and twelve, and although the schoolboy doggerel of the time said, “Latin is a language as dead as dead can be/ It killed the ancient Romans and now it’s killing me!”, it actually was one of the most valuable contributions to my education. So when I came across the motto of the Church of Scotland — “Nec tamen consumebatur” — I could easily translate, “…and yet not consumed”. This is, of course, a reference to Moses and the miracle of the burning bush in the desert, and that story reminded me again that when God calls, He rarely chooses the person who feels most ready.
More often, He calls those who are reluctant because they feel least qualified—those who look at themselves and see only weakness. Moses is a prime example of this. Though his name is now synonymous with leadership, deliverance, and faith, his story began with hesitation and excuses.
In Exodus 3, Moses was living a quiet life in Midian, tending sheep for his father-in-law. His dreams of greatness were long behind him. Then, one day, he encountered the presence of God in a burning bush that would not be consumed. From that fiery encounter came a divine summons: “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10, NLT).
Instead of rejoicing, Moses froze. His first words revealed a heart overwhelmed by inadequacy: “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Like so many of us, Moses chose to focus on his limitations rather than God’s power. But the Lord immediately redirected his attention: “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12).
That simple promise has encouraged and carried countless believers through moments of fear and uncertainty. God’s call is never about human ability; it is about divine presence. Moses didn’t need to be strong—he just needed to trust the One who is.
Still, Moses hesitated. He protested again, saying, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13). Beneath the question lay uncertainty about God Himself. Moses wanted certainty before obedience, but God revealed Himself instead: “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14).
God didn’t offer Moses a detailed plan or a full explanation—He offered His identity. In other words, “You may not know everything about the future, but you can know Me.” That truth remains the foundation of every calling. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), trusting that God’s character is enough to sustain us even when His methods remain mysterious.
Moses’s hesitation continued. He worried that the people wouldn’t believe him or listen to his voice (Exodus 4:1). So God gave him signs: the staff turning into a snake, his hand turning leprous and then healed, and water from the Nile becoming blood. Yet even miraculous proof didn’t erase his fears. Finally, Moses confessed the core of his struggle: “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been… I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” (Exodus 4:10).
Here, Moses exposed the fear many of us feel when God calls us beyond our comfort zones: “I can’t do this.”
But God’s response was both tender and firm: “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).
God’s answer cuts through every excuse. The issue is not ability, but availability.
God does not look for the most talented or eloquent person; He looks for the one willing to trust Him. As the apostle Paul later wrote, “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise… God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).
When Moses finally obeyed, he discovered that God’s promise was true. The Lord worked wonders through him—dividing seas, humbling Pharaoh, and leading a nation toward freedom. None of it depended on Moses’s natural ability. It was all God’s power, flowing through a surrendered life.
Our excuses today may sound different, but the heart behind them is the same: “I’m not ready… I’m not worthy… I’m not enough.” Yet God still says, “I will be with you.” He equips those He calls, shaping weakness into strength and turning fear into faith.
If God is calling you to serve, lead, speak, or step into something unfamiliar, remember the story of Moses. The burning bush is no longer aflame in the desert—it burns now in the hearts of those who say yes to God. You don’t need to be qualified or prepared. You need only to be willing. God will do the rest.
Blessings on you and yours,
Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org