Remember when your teacher called on you, and your hand wasn’t even raised? It felt like a dirty trick, especially when others around you were clearly volunteering!

Seems like a similar thing happened to Moses when God spoke to him from a bush that was on fire but not burning up.

God’s message to His newly chosen leader was (1) I have seen the misery of My people, (2) I have heard them crying out, (3) I am concerned about their suffering, and (4) I have come down to rescue them out of that land. (Exodus 3:7-8)

Finally, God was going to rescue the Israelites out of their Egyptian captivity. It sounded like a great plan to Moses … until he heard the rest of God’s message. “So now, go. I am sending you” (Exodus 3:10). Wait. What?

Moses’s excuses began. But, I didn’t raise my hand! Who am I? What if they ask me questions I can’t answer? What if they don’t believe me or listen to me? I don’t speak well! I’m not qualified. And finally, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it” (Exodus 4:13).

God met Moses where he was. He promised Moses He would be with him. He gave Moses miraculous signs to show the Egyptians. God even sent Moses’s brother along as his mouthpiece. Moses accomplished the work God assigned and Israel successfully left Egypt for the Promised Land.

God has a work for us as well, whether our hand is raised or not. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Know that God will be with us and will help us with whatever He has in mind.

Who me? Yes, you … and me. May we watch and listen for God’s calling and surrender to what He calls us to do.