by: Dr. Bob Gray Sr.
Exodus 2:12, “And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.”
Moses was a strong man. Moses was an outdoorsman. Moses was a shepherd.
Exodus 4:10, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
Notice Moses’ strength was demonstrated in “smiting.” Note his weakness was “speaking.” He said he was not eloquent.
Exodus 4:11, “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?”
Notice Moses’ strength was smiting and his weakness was speaking.
Numbers 20:7-8, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”
What was Moses’ strength? It was smiting! What was Moses’ weakness? It was speaking! What did God tell Moses to do to the rock? He told him to speak! Thus, God was asking Moses to use his weakness.
Numbers 20:9-11, “And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.”
What was Moses’ strength? It was smiting! What was Moses’ weakness? It was speaking! What did God ask Moses to do to the rock? He asked him to speak. What did Moses do to the rock? He smote the rock!
Numbers 20:12, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
God told Moses that he would not be able to go nor lead God’s people into the Promised Land. God said to Moses you have been with my people for forty long years and you have led them. God said Moses I told you to “speak” to that rock and you “smote” that rock. Because you did not obey me you will not enter into the Promised Land.
My question is what was the sin that Moses committed that kept Moses from entering into the Promised Land? It was the sin of using his strength instead of his weakness.
What was Moses’ strength? It was smiting! What was Moses’ weakness? It was speaking! What did God ask Moses to do to the rock? He asked him to “speak” to the rock. What did Moses do to the rock? He “smote” the rock. Moses’ strength was in “smiting” and Moses weakness was in “speaking.” God is saying to Moses, “I want your weakness, not your strength.”
When you and I give our weakness to God and He uses it, God receives all the glory. When you or I succeed with our strength we receive all the glory. God was saying to Moses, “I want you to speak to the rock because you are weak in that area.” Moses said, “I want to smite the rock because it is my strength.”
The truth is not many people succeed in the field of their strengths. Very few of these folks succeed and that is why God desires our weakness. That is why Paul said, “In my weakness am I made strong.” Why? Because you do not beg God to help your strength for we beg God to help our weakness. In your strength you do it by yourself. In your weakness you do it with God’s help because you know you can’t do it by yourself.
Some have a difficult time in school while others seem to have little trouble in school. To some weakness is learning, memory work, comprehending, or reading. Both the strong and the weak will graduate, but the one with a weakness will receive the education. Grades are not necessarily an indicator that one has received an education.
I was an introvert in school and at church. My strength was on the ball field. My weakness was speaking and being a natural leader. God wants our weakness so we will depend upon him and not ourselves. Someone says about another, he or she has “a great talent” in a certain area. That may be true, but chances are he or she will never use it for God.
If God uses you He will probably use you in a weak area in your life where you will have to throw yourself at His feet and beg for His help. Your weakness plus God’s strength is stronger than your strength without God’s strength. All of us will come nearer begging God for strength when we do not have any strength of our own. God made it very clear in Scripture that he has chosen the weak, the foolish, and the base things of this world to confound the wise and to set at naught the mighty. Why? Because God receives the glory that way.
The leader who makes it is always some little guy who says, “I don’t think I can do this?” He goes alone out into the woods and begs God, “Oh, my God I’ve got a responsibility that is beyond my capabilities, and I do not know how to do this. Oh, God you have to help me?” God says, “That’s what I’m looking for in a leader. I am looking for weakness.” Thus, he and God provide the necessary leadership.
God is looking for leaders who give their weakness to God and allows Him to add His strength. It is then that the job is done God’s way.
OBSERVATIONS
God wants your weakness not your strength.
Your weakness plus God ‘s strength is stronger than your strength.
Your strength crucified can become weakness.
Yield both your weakness and your strength to God.
Uncrucified weakness is as dangerous as uncrucified strength.
God’s work must be done in God’s power and God’s way.
Bob Gray Sr.
http://solvechurchproblems.com