04/18/2023
God calls us suddenly, and usually without announcement, are we ready at a moment's notice, or must we make preparations before answering His call? Will we instantly reply "Here I am!" When He calls? I find it interesting that most of the great prophets and leaders of the Bible answered instantly when God called them. There is no hesitation and no consideration as to why they were being called.
When I was young my mother would go to the door, push open the screen, and shout my name. Most of the time I would yell back "Coming Mom!" And take off for the house, but on occasion I would be in the middle of playing a game and pretend I didn't hear her. I would make her call me several times, or respond "In a minute, Mom!" Sometimes I had an idea regarding what she was calling me for and if it wasn't something I wanted to do I would drag my feet then too... answering slowly and taking a circuitous route home. Are we like the prophets, or like me as a young boy... picking and choosing when we will answer quickly and what route we will take?
“When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."”
Exodus 3:4 ESV
Moses was ready to answer God. When God saw that he turned aside to get a closer look at the burning bush, He called out to him... and Moses answered straight way. Then, after God told him what He had for him to do, Moses didn't say no or ask for something else to do, he simply felt that the task was beyond his ability, and answered "who am I that I should go?"
“But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"”
Exodus 3:11 ESV
God was asking Moses to do something great, and yet Moses felt it was beyond his humble ability... above his station in life. There are many who have a high regard for themselves and would have jumped at a chance like this, but not Moses... He felt this was beyond his ability, and he was right!
Moses was right, this was too much for him to do. He was right, just as we will be right when God calls us to do a thing that is greater than ourselves, but God already knows us and He will give us aid. In the case of Moses, He gave Him a staff that would perform great miracles, signs to demonstrate he had been called, and when Moses still doubted his ability, God gave him Aaron to speak for him. All of these things God will do for us when he calls... all we must do is say "Here I am!"
But the calling of Moses was a call to greatness; what if God calls us to perform something beneath us? What if God wants us to do something that would demean us, or make us appear less before our peers? How about Naaman? Naaman was a great man and highly favored by His master, but he was a leper. His master valued him so much that when he heard there was a prophet in Israel that could heal him, he sent him with great treasure to the King of Israel and asked that he be healed. You will notice that he wasn't sent to the prophet, but to the king! The prophet was socially beneath Naaman.
So Naaman goes to the king of Israel, and the prophet Elisha offers to heal him. But... this wouldn't be some grand ceremony; Instead, Elisha doesn't even speak to Naaman directly. Even though Naaman is standing outside his house, Elisha sends a messenger. Let's read:
“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.”
2 Kings 5:10-11 ESV
What God was asking him to do was beneath Naaman, and to make matters worse, this prophet wouldn't even speak directly to him. Insults upon insults for this great man.
“Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.”
2 Kings 5:12 ESV
But this isn't how the story ends. Naaman's servant intercedes (not a king or great man) and Naaman humbled himself out of desperation and goes to the Jordan River...
“But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
2 Kings 5:13-14 ESV
So we have a couple of questions to ask ourselves this morning; are we prepared to answer God's call with an immediate "Here I am!" And when God tells us of His desire for us, will we go straightway to do it regardless of what it is? The truth s this… God humbles the great, and makes great the humble. Yet the answer we should give is the same... "Here I am, Lord!"
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your callings in my life; some call me to be greater than I am while others teach me that I am less than I suppose. In your Word I learn that the first will be last, and this is a valuable lesson Father. Holy Lord, I pray that each time I hear your voice call my name that I will answer quickly with the words "Here I am" and never ignore your call or ask "what is it?" Strengthen me in character Lord and let me be prepared to do the lesser things with the same enthusiasm as the greater. Diminish my pride, and increase my humility, that I might serve you completely and in all things. Let me dip myself in the Jordan just as faithfully as I face the Pharaoh of Egypt. In your hands I am neither beggar nor king, but simply your servant...
“that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
John 17:21 ESV
Rich Forbes