God Only Uses the “Who Am I?”
“But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’ But he said, ‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’ Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses…” Exodus 4:10-15
As I reflected on Moses’ call, I was struck by God’s patience. When God first called him, Moses asked, “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11) and “Who should I say sent me?” (Exodus 3:13). God graciously answered, revealing His identity and reassuring Moses of His presence.
But even after these affirmations, Moses hesitated, pleading, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). Up to that point, God had been patient with Moses’ questions. But at this refusal, Scripture tells us, “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” (Exodus 4:14).
David Guzik suggest that God was not angry when Moses asked all his questions that seemed to reveal doubt, “but God was angry when Moses was just plain unwilling.”
Even in His anger, though, God didn’t abandon Moses. Instead, He provided Aaron as a spokesperson—though this provision came with a cost. As Guzik also notes, “Aaron did turn out to be a source of problems for Moses.” Aaron later fashioned the golden calf and built its altar (Exodus 32:1-6) and even led a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 12:1-8).
These struggles may have been a form of discipline, a reminder of Moses’ initial unwillingness. Nevertheless God remained faithful and through these struggles refined Moses’ faith over time until he became a bold mouthpiece for the Lord.
This story reveals a profound truth: Moses wasn’t wrong to ask, “Who am I?” He was inadequate for the task in his own strength. His questions weren’t the problem—God welcomes honest doubts.
The issue was his reluctance to trust God’s sufficiency and make himself available. The beauty of this account is that God only uses the “Who am I’s”—those who feel weak, unqualified, or uncertain. When a “Who am I?” surrenders to the Great "I am," extraordinary things happen. God’s power shines through our weakness.
Charles Spurgeon, the renowned preacher, once said, “God does not need your strength: He has more than enough power of His own. He asks your weakness: He has none of that Himself, and He is longing, therefore, to take your weakness, and use it as the instrument in His own mighty hand.”
Moses’ story proves this: his faltering steps led to a legacy of faith because he ultimately yielded to God’s call.
So, if you’re asking, “Who am I?”—good. That’s where God starts. The question isn’t whether you’re enough; it’s whether you’ll trust the One who is. When we offer our inadequacy to the Great I am, He does “God things” through us—things only He can do.
-Pastor Marco
As I reflected on Moses’ call, I was struck by God’s patience. When God first called him, Moses asked, “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11) and “Who should I say sent me?” (Exodus 3:13). God graciously answered, revealing His identity and reassuring Moses of His presence.
But even after these affirmations, Moses hesitated, pleading, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). Up to that point, God had been patient with Moses’ questions. But at this refusal, Scripture tells us, “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” (Exodus 4:14).
David Guzik suggest that God was not angry when Moses asked all his questions that seemed to reveal doubt, “but God was angry when Moses was just plain unwilling.”
Even in His anger, though, God didn’t abandon Moses. Instead, He provided Aaron as a spokesperson—though this provision came with a cost. As Guzik also notes, “Aaron did turn out to be a source of problems for Moses.” Aaron later fashioned the golden calf and built its altar (Exodus 32:1-6) and even led a rebellion against Moses (Numbers 12:1-8).
These struggles may have been a form of discipline, a reminder of Moses’ initial unwillingness. Nevertheless God remained faithful and through these struggles refined Moses’ faith over time until he became a bold mouthpiece for the Lord.
This story reveals a profound truth: Moses wasn’t wrong to ask, “Who am I?” He was inadequate for the task in his own strength. His questions weren’t the problem—God welcomes honest doubts.
The issue was his reluctance to trust God’s sufficiency and make himself available. The beauty of this account is that God only uses the “Who am I’s”—those who feel weak, unqualified, or uncertain. When a “Who am I?” surrenders to the Great "I am," extraordinary things happen. God’s power shines through our weakness.
Charles Spurgeon, the renowned preacher, once said, “God does not need your strength: He has more than enough power of His own. He asks your weakness: He has none of that Himself, and He is longing, therefore, to take your weakness, and use it as the instrument in His own mighty hand.”
Moses’ story proves this: his faltering steps led to a legacy of faith because he ultimately yielded to God’s call.
So, if you’re asking, “Who am I?”—good. That’s where God starts. The question isn’t whether you’re enough; it’s whether you’ll trust the One who is. When we offer our inadequacy to the Great I am, He does “God things” through us—things only He can do.
-Pastor Marco