Blog – Not Me, O Lord: Answering God’s Call When You Feel Unqualified
Based on a sermon from Exodus 3 & 4
What a blessing it is to fellowship freely, to worship God according to our conscience, and to gather on the Sabbath with brothers and sisters. We have incredible freedoms and blessings, and as we enter earth’s final hours, God is preparing to pour out His Spirit in a mighty way—what we often call the “latter rain” or the “loud cry” of Revelation 18.
To accomplish this, God is looking for an army. Not an army of the perfect, the polished, or the powerful, but an army of the willing—young and old, male and female—who will answer His call not with, “Not me, O Lord,” but with, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”
Many of us can pinpoint a moment when we realized God had a claim on our lives. For me, it was a childhood moment of misguided “witnessing” that ended with my mother looking at me with something other than “undiluted love.” Yet, even in that failure, I knew God was calling me to something.
This struggle with God’s call is not new. We often look at biblical heroes and forget their reluctance. Today, we turn to the story of one of the most reluctant heroes: Moses. His story teaches us how God responds to our most common objections to ministry.
The Preparation: From “I Can” to “I Can’t”
Moses was born for a special task, providentially rescued and raised in Pharaoh’s palace with the best education and military training the ancient world could offer. At age 40, he was confident, ready to liberate God’s people by his own strength and strategy (Exodus 2:11-15).
But God’s methods are not the world’s methods. Moses had to unlearn the spirit of Egypt—driving men by force, fear, and pain—and learn to lead by love, as a shepherd leads his sheep. God allowed Moses 40 years in the wilderness, herding smelly, helpless sheep, to strip him of his self-sufficiency.
There’s a profound lesson here: Sometimes when we think we’re ready for ministry, we’re not. And sometimes when we feel completely inadequate, that’s precisely when God says, “Now you are ready.”
At 80, Moses was no longer a self-assured prince but a humble shepherd who had learned to depend entirely on God. It was then, at the mountain of God, that the call came from the burning bush.
The Five Objections and God’s Answers
When God called Moses to return to Egypt and lead Israel to freedom, Moses raised five objections. Each one mirrors the excuses we make today, and God’s responses are just as relevant for us.
1. The Objection of Identity: “Who am I?”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)
Moses felt his identity was too messy, too broken. A Hebrew raised as an Egyptian, a murderer, a fugitive, a man with a mixed-race family—he felt he was nobody. The taunt from 40 years prior—”Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?”—still echoed in his mind.
God’s Response: “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)
God shifted the focus from Moses’ inadequacy to His own sufficiency. The call wasn’t about Moses’ identity, but about God’s presence. The same promise given to Moses is given to us by Jesus: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Your brokenness is not a disqualification; it’s a qualification in God’s kingdom. Where you see failure, God sees a perfect candidate for His grace.
2. The Objection of Authority: “By what authority?”
“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13)
Moses worried the Israelites would ask for his credentials. They had been slaves for 400 years—would they even remember their God? Would they believe that this God could actually do anything for them?
God’s Response: “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)
God revealed His personal, covenant name, Yahweh. This name signifies His self-existent, unchanging, and eternal nature. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God who guides, provides, and delivers. He is the great “I AM,” sufficient for every situation.
When you feel you have no authority, remember the One who sends you is the great I AM. Your authority comes from Him, not your own resume.
3. The Objection of Credibility: “What if they don’t believe me?”
“What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1)
Moses feared being seen as a crazy old man who’d been in the sun too long. His story of a talking bush that didn’t burn sounded unbelievable.
God’s Response: “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)
God didn’t dismiss the fear; He equipped Moses to overcome it. He gave him three miraculous signs:
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The Staff: A symbol of God’s creative power.
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The Leprous Hand: A demonstration that God can work through our diseased and broken parts.
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The Water to Blood: A declaration of God’s authority over life and death.
God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. He will provide the evidence of His power in your life to confirm your message.
4. The Objection of Ability: “I am not a good speaker.”
“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10)
Moses pleaded a lack of eloquence, a crisis of confidence. Ironically, he later became one of history’s great orators (Deuteronomy is a masterful series of speeches). His fear was real, even if his self-assessment was flawed.
God’s Response: “Who gave human beings their mouths? … Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:11-12)
The Creator of the tongue can certainly give it words to speak. Jesus echoed this promise to His disciples: “Do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11)
Your inability is God’s opportunity. He asks for your obedience and willingness; He will supply the words.
5. The Objection of Willingness: “Please send someone else.”
“Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13)
This was the heart of the matter. After all the logical excuses were exhausted, Moses simply didn’t want to go. It was too costly, too risky, too uncomfortable.
God’s anger burned against this final refusal, yet in His mercy, He provided a helper in Moses’ brother, Aaron. But the primary call and responsibility remained with Moses.
At the end of the day, the call to discipleship is a call to surrender our will. It’s a choice to step out in faith, even when every fiber of our being screams to stay in our comfort zone.
The Conclusion: From “Not Me” to “Send Me”
When Moses finally laid down his excuses, God used him to become one of the greatest leaders in human history. His journey teaches us that every successful ministry begins with an encounter with the living God.
So, how do we move from “Not me, O Lord” to “Here am I, send me”?
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Bow Down. Begin each day in worship. Remind yourself of who God is—His character, His promises, His faithfulness.
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Look Up. Stop focusing on your own weaknesses, failures, and inadequacies. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.
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Step Out. In faith, with the assurance that He is with you, take the next step of obedience. Shine for Jesus right where you are.
God is not calling you to be perfect. He is calling you to be available. He can work through a prostitute like Rahab, a doubter like Thomas, a persecutor like Paul, and a reluctant shepherd like Moses.
He can work through you.
May we, from this day forward, be a people who, in our weakness, allow His strength to be made perfect. May our prayer be, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”
Amen.