Journeys into the Unknown

“but Moses said, O my Lord, please send someone else.”

God called Moses out from a burning bush, called him to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt into a land filled with milk and honey.  Moses didn’t want the job.

In one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament, Moses negotiates with God, trying to wiggle out of the call that has come his way.  I expect Moses was frightened of the potential dangers in following this divine call.  He might have felt overwhelmed.  He was most definite that he didn’t possess the skills needed to accomplish this task that God was calling him to. After having exhausted his excuses Moses finally gets to the bottom line and says, 

“O my Lord, please send someone else.”  Exodus 4.13

It was not to be.  This calling was for Moses; he was to lead them to freedom and God promised to be with him every step of the way.  I am sure Moses was scared, and there are many times he is frustrated, even angry with the people of Israel. There a couple of times he isn’t particularly happy with God either. But he takes up the call that God has given him and steps out into the unknown. 

Likewise, each of you have received a call from God to be a servant of this Word, Jesus. 

Few of God’s servants can see the larger divine plan or the twists and turns that will make the path forward awkward, sometimes difficult, often seemingly impossible.  None of us possesses all the skills necessary for the job.  Our call often appears mundane, insignificant, more bother than divine poetry. 

In the end, many of God’s servants would prefer that God sent someone else.

God is sending you….to people who are lost in the kinds of slavery we encounter in this world, who are waiting for you to come and bring the power of a risen Jesus to them and to set them free.  There are the lost ones who belong nowhere.  There are the crushed ones who think they have no worth.  There are the downtrodden who haven’t seen the ‘way up’ in a lifetime.  God is calling you – each one of you – and Luther Memorial as a community of faith – to go and lead them through the wilderness to God’s promised land.

We who follow Jesus proclaim a Christ who is crucified and risen:  a Savior who knows firsthand the suffering of this world and carries it into the heart of God where life is found.  This is the Jesus you bring with you wherever you go.

Go in peace.  Go knowing you have been equipped for this calling.  Go in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Don’t worry about stumbling.  Don’t worry about taking a wrong turn.  Don’t worry about being a bit confused.  Go.  Go in Jesus’ name.  Go and carry the love of God with you.

And may the peace that passes all understanding keep your hearts

 and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Peace my friends.

So is my final word to the people of Luther Memorial.  Now we begin a new adventure.  Join me on this adventure as we seek the face of God in the world in which we move.  Sign up and my latest posting will be delivered directly to your mailbox.  PW