Though the Lord had told Moses He would be with his mouth, Moses came up with another deflection. Exodus 4:13 says, “…O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” Disobedience is part of our sin nature. Obedience is a choice to step beyond our arguing flesh. 

Here is a question to ask the Holy Spirit. What have I forfeited through my reluctance? Reluctance means an unwillingness or disinclination to do something. That also greatly defines procrastination. Putting off today what we should have done yesterday.

Years ago my pastor wrote a little note to me: Seize the opportunity in the moment of the opportunity. I want to take us to Isaiah 6. This is pre-cross. Isaiah saw the Lord. He was enveloped in His Presence. He heard the Seraphim cry out to each other in verse 3. It says, “…Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Think of what Isaiah saw and felt. Verse 4 says, “And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”

In such majesty and power, Isaiah recognized and acknowledged his uncleanness. A seraphim took a live coal from the altar. Notice that he used tongs. He touched Isaiah’s mouth and told him that his iniquity was taken away and his sin purged. Then he heard a voice. Verse 8 says, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Isaiah immediately replied, “…Here am I! Send me.”

Did you notice the contrast between Moses’ reluctance, and Isaiah seizing the opportunity the moment it was presented? Both had to do with their mouth. We are post-cross. Our iniquity was laid on Jesus. Isaiah 53:3 says that He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. Peter reiterates that eternal truth for every believer. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as He who called you holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.”

2 Timothy 1:9 says, “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” No matter what the Lord calls us to do, His grace is abundantly supplied. Therefore we do not answer according to our ability, but because He bestows His power. It is in us according to Ephesians 3:20. It says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” That power is the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead.

Of course we will argue in our flesh if we look to ourselves as the one who will do what He has called us to do. Moses argued in his flesh, because he failed to believe what God had said. Exodus 4:12 says, “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” What has the Lord asked you to do with what is in your hand? John 3:34 says, “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”