Skilled vs. Commissioned

When God approached Moses about leading His people out of Egypt, Moses begged God, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it"(Exodus 4:13 NIV). Even though God was commissioning him for the work, Moses did not believe that Pharaoh or the Israelites would listen to him. I can relate. When God calls me to something, I look at others who have the skill to do what He's asked. I remember even when looking at my now fiancé before we started dating, I would look at other women and cry because I felt they were better equipped to be a pastor's wife. I trusted God, though. I kept moving where He called and as a result, have been maturing into the role He has placed me in.
       God is far seeing. He knows what we are and will be capable of doing. We judge based off our past and current experiences, but God judges based off our future ones. When Moses continued to make excuses about why he wasn't the man for the job and finally begged Him to send someone else, God got angry. It was then that God allowed Aaron to speak for Moses. Looking at the skills his brother possessed, Moses was satisfied with that decision. He perceived Aaron as being better suited for the job.

       Moses' lack of faith in God's wisdom in chosing him to do the job alone had later consequences. Fast forward to the Israelites being led out of Egypt and making the journey to the promised land. On one occasion, when Moses goes up the mountain to be with God, the people begin to grow restless and believe he may have died because of how long he was gone. They tell Aaron to make them a new god to worship, and he makes them a golden calf out of their jewelry. The people worship and make sacrifices to it. (Read Exodus 32)

       Aaron gave in to the people's sinful desires. The people came to him to give them something new to worship. It could have been a good opportunity to remind them of God's faithfulness and lead their hearts back to Him. Instead, though, he gave them what they wanted. Aaron did not use his authority wisely. Looking at it, though, the reason Aaron had such a position of authority in front of the people is because Moses used him as his partner and mouthpiece when God initially began the process of getting His people out of Egypt.

        Aaron was a good speaker, but not a good leader. In the beginning, Moses was only looking at the basic skills (public speaking) needed to equip someone for the task he was commissioned to do, but he wasn't looking deeper. Faithfulness and teachability were more important qualities for what God was going to do through Moses. Just because someone has the skills, does not mean that that person has the heart to do what God desires. God looks deeper than we do.

        We need to be careful when looking at our commission and thinking someone else would be better for the job. The person may seem equipped with the skills needed, but that means nothing without God's commission to do it. I've learned that skills are something God can easily build up within us or supplement. (Ironically, Moses ended up doing most of the public speaking anyway.) God sees the full picture and if He is calling you to something, it's because you have the right heart and can/will be able to see it through with Him. Don't throw a wrench in that plan and try to throw someone else in who seems qualified or you may end up dealing with the consequences (as Moses did). God knows what He's doing and who He is calling.