This morning I read about God’s call of Moses during the Burning Bush incident. It stirred up a lot of thoughts about God’s call and our response. In the past few years I have heard people share their stories of how God has done incredible things in their lives. Stories by Francis Chan, Rick Warren, Steven Furtick, Perry Noble and countless others have inspired me beyond belief. Usually my first response is awe. “Wow, that is amazing!” But as time has gone on I have begun to see a pattern these men clearly heard from God and then they simply began to do what God had called them to do. I know, simple isn’t it? Yet the more I have read and the more I have studied Scripture if there was ever a “key” that would be it. Pray like crazy until you hear from God, and then without delay go and do what he has told you to do. These men are no more educated, no more “spiritual”, no more gifted than I am, the only difference is they heard from God and obeyed.
This is not to say they weren’t worried, scared or confused at times but they still followed God, anyway. It wasn’t that they didn’t experience adversity, tests and trials, they did but they followed God, anyway. It wasn’t that they didn’t face discouraging words from friends, family, fellow ministers, who, maybe not intentionally, were giving voice to the status quo. No, they experienced all those things but they believed the call of God even when no one else could see it. They followed God even when it led them away from what they were comfortable with, what they were used to. Following the voice of God became their obsession.
Think about it. What if Abraham’s family had convinced him that he shouldn’t leave Ur? What if they had convinced him to play it safe and stick with what was known, comfortable, traditional who would be the father of the faithful? Often today when we refer to someone being faithful it many times means that a person is consistent rather than full of faith. We use it to refer to the saint who never misses church, “Boy they sure are faithful” even if they haven’t used an ounce of faith to live their life in a very long time. We have confused being “good at routine”, or “rule following” for a faith filled life. No faithfulness refers to someone who is full of faith and that faith leads to action in response to the call of God on their lives. This action is often not a repeat of something that was done before but instead a call to do something that has never been done before. Think about it, Noah, wasn’t born into a long line of boat builders who finally perfected their craft. No, he was the first. God’s design and plan is full of firsts, man’s design and plan is full of repeats and circles.
In my upbringing we were conditioned to seek the call of God and that is a good thing. What I didn’t’ hear much about was how that when you receive a call of God, people start hating you, becoming jealous of you, you may have to leave your family, experience being ostracized. Basically the call of God does all but ruin your life. God seems to destroy what you know so you can be ready for what is unknown. God can’t give us anything new if we are hanging on with clinched fists to what we have. Scripturally the call of God is far from predictable. So when I read Moses’ response to God’s call things got a bit more human. In Exodus 4:13-14 “But Moses said, ‘Pardon your servant Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses…” Moses tells God, “No thank you! I’d rather stay here where I’m comfortable, where life is predictable. Pick some other sap.” I guess maybe Moses better understood the consequences of God’s call. He was honest, God I like my life do I have to?
Obviously, we all know the response should always be “Yes, Lord!” But words are cheap, actions are another thing altogether. I’m feeling conviction even as I write this, how many times have I said “Yes, Lord!” but my actions said something totally different, my actions spoke loud and clear that my personal comfort was far more important that God’s plan for my life.
I remember almost eight years ago I was praying, fasting and desperately crying out to God for direction. I needed to have a clear word I felt I was experiencing divine discontent where something bigger was forcing me from the comfort zone I had become accustomed to. I can remember praying God I’m willing to go wherever you want. I’ll sell everything I own to follow your call. As clear as day I saw whether in a vision or a dream a little store front filled with red chairs, I saw Rob Nigro and a keyboard setup with no one to play it and I felt God say to me, “Sam, you are to go help Rob personally and Kerri will help with the music.” Being the activator that I am in less than 5 minutes I called Pastor Rob on the cell phone and asked him a question. “Pastor Rob have you been praying about anything?” He said instantly, “Brother Sam, I’ve been praying for someone to help me and someone to help with our music.” I needed nothing else. God had called and I wanted to answer.
I haven’t looked back, but to say that it has been easy would be a far cry from the truth. People I respect to this day asked questions that continue to confuse me. I had others offer all kinds of reasons why I shouldn’t do what I knew God was calling me to. I would be lying if I told you that we have felt overwhelming support for our decision. I realize that for everyone else the call of God must seem foreign and strange because God isn’t calling them to do that he’s calling you. I’m sure Abraham didn’t broadcast to Sarah his plan to follow God and sacrifice his son Isaac. If he had I’m sure there would have been some good questions. What precedent do you have Abraham for doing that? What possible good could come of that?
So here is my point. First we must do a better job of educating our youngsters on what the call of God might entail for them. Be careful what you ask for. I assure you my life would have been a lot easier had I not been chosen. Yet on the flip side I wouldn’t trade my God-filled life for anything. Second we must show a lot more respect to those who have been chosen and called by God. Their path won’t be a normal or easy to follow, but we need people to answer these calls. What if Moses had said no? There were a couple of million Israelites that had been waiting 430 years for deliverance depending on him. We need more Joseph’s who are willing to stand by their Mary’s while she tells the world she’s bearing a child whose father is the Holy Spirit. Try pulling that off today. “Guys, listen up! God is doing something really special in my life, I’m pregnant.” Humanly this is a ridiculous story on every level and yet I’ve become convinced that is what the call of God always looks like. Nonetheless Joseph stood there and said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I believe you. I believe in your call so you Go Girl!” How would this story have gone down if Joseph had always been suspicious, jealous, and wondering who the real father was. No he had to accept and believe the call just as much for this story to work out. So we need both Marys who receives the call and the Josephs who support those who are called.
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