THE I AM IS ENOUGH

Have you ever gone to a cashier to pay for something with cash and found that you didn’t have ENOUGH to pay? I have. It’s humiliating and frustrating especially when everyone is watching, or you were already nervous that you might not have enough anyway. Ugh!

God spoke to Moses and gave him a task to do, and he knew he was not enough for the gigantic job being laid out for him. He was scared.

Let’s return to the scene in our minds in Exodus chapter 3. Moses went over to a bush on fire, but it wasn’t burning up - it just kept burning and burning. Then God spoke from the fire and called MOSES’ NAME. Talk about a heart-stopping moment!

Moses already knew the Israelites were in misery; they had been in that situation when he ran. Is it possible that God had been nudging Moses already? Possibly. Now God does more than nudge. He tells Moses He is sending HIM to lead the people out in Ex. 3:10 NKJV. “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out.”

God spoke to Moses and told him that He would be with him, and He would bring them ALL back to that same mountain to worship in verse 12. God told Moses to tell the people His name, “I AM WHO I AM” and to tell them “I AM” had sent him in verse 13.

Moses argued with God and gave five excuses not to obey.

A. You have the wrong person - Ex. 3:11

B. I don’t know what to say - Ex. 3:13

C. I might fail - Ex. 4:1

D. I don’t have the skills - Ex. 4:10

E. Someone else will do it - Ex. 4:13

God answered with five “I AM WHO I AM” answers:

A. “I will be with you” - Ex. 3:12

B. “This is what you are to say” - Ex. 3:14

C. God showed Moses His power; it’s His strength, not ours that will get things done.

     - Ex. 4:2-9

D. God wasn’t pleased with Moses’ unwillingness, but He promised to send help

    - Ex. 4:14-16

Moses stepped out holding God’s hand and it was NOT easy, but He grew and found that the I AM absolutely was enough to see him through that task and every task after that one.

What about us? Do we have the same attention from the God who called Moses by name out of the fire in the bush? Absolutely. He sees us too. He knows exactly what impossible situation we’re in. His power has not diminished since then. Why then, we ask ourselves, doesn’t He swoop in and change it all and fix everything in our world? Because He’s God and He does things His way. Our job is to be faithful in what He’s called us to do, not figure it all out. His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Let’s take a cue from Moses and obey. I personally hope God doesn’t ask me to pick up a snake, like He did Moses; I’m just thinking I might pass out on that one, but God knows that about me! Let’s just do our best to trust the I AM who called us, because HE makes us enough.

Tammie Box serves as Women’s Ministries Director for the Church of God in Western North Carolina. Her husband, Kip, serves as the state administrative Bishop. She has worked as a high school teacher, children’s pastor, and credentialing secretary. The Boxes have worked in pastoral ministry for over twenty-eight years. She has a bachelor’s degree in physics and is a licensed minister. She is the author of the book Train Them Up, a book on children’s ministry, and the creator & editor of the book, By The Word of Her Testimony, a year-long devotion book for women full of testimonies of how real-life women were saved. The Boxes have two children, Madison & Judson, and a son-in-law, Noah, and a grandson, Rudy. Tammie has ministered in many settings from children’s church to prison ministries, from youth camps & women’s retreats to Sunday services. Her passion is to see the lost come to Christ and be discipled!