From Here I Am to Who Am I?

Just one verse today? I know. I know. It’s like we’ve come to a complete stop right here at the unburning bush, haven’t we?

But . . . isn’t that the point?

The Bible wants what happened on its pages to keep on happening as its pages are turned. The aspiration of the inspired text is to combust into fire, right? From what I am gathering from so many of you, this is happening.

Our shoes are off. We are low to the ground. We just said, “Here I am” (v. 4), and God is speaking.

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (v. 10)

Ready for our response?

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

That’s what I would have said. You too?

Who am I? It’s three questions really.

Who am I? This one is filled with absurd incredulity; as in, there’s no way you would be calling me to such a thing as this at such a time as this. I am no one. Unqualified. Not (fill in the blank) enough. Wrong number. Call someone else. I am out. It’s a hard pass.

Who am I? This one is filled with implausible possibility; as in, God must see something in me. I don’t see it, but I am willing to look deeper. Is there a superhero suit in my closet I don’t yet know about? Maybe there’s more to me than anyone, including me, knows. I am leaning in. It’s a definite maybe.

Who am I? This one is filled with humble consideration; as in, I’m clearly not qualified, but I did hear my name called . . . twice. The challenge is stratospherically beyond me, and yet I am not being asked for initiative but response. God, for whom nothing is impossible, is calling. This is not about me but him. I am willing. It’s a where-do-I-sign? yes.

Real faith most often moves from no to maybe to yes. It’s why God never stops sowing into people and also why we must never stop. To God, no means not now—tell me more; maybe means definitely later—check back tomorrow; and yes means I’ve already ordered my uniform.

The truth? As we will see in the coming days, God is not so much asking us to do something as he is calling us to become someone; someone who is deeply surrendered to him, someone who trusts in the Lord with all their heart and leans not on their own understanding, who acknowledges him in all their ways so he can direct their paths (see Proverbs 3:5–6). That someone is who you most truly are in your deepest self, and so often—it’s the someone (a.k.a. your false self) you’ve settled for—that’s in the way. Truth be told, the real reason for our reluctance is we fundamentally lack confidence in God—more specifically, God in us. It’s why we need deliverance. 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

So which version of “Who am I?” is it for you? Hard pass? Definite maybe? Where do I sign?