When we think of Moses, we often picture a strong leader standing before Pharaoh or holding the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. But if we look closely at his story, we see a man who began with fear and self-doubt. And that is where the beauty of God’s call begins.
God called Moses not because he was powerful, but because he was willing to listen. In the book of Exodus, we read how God spoke to Moses from the burning bush: “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt… so I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:7–10). Moses did not volunteer—he hesitated, even protested—but God saw in him a heart that could learn to trust. The Lord chose Moses to be the instrument of His mercy, to free His people from slavery and lead them toward the Promised Land.
When God calls someone, He does not look for perfection. He looks for faith. Moses stuttered and felt unworthy, yet God said, “I will be with you.” That promise changed everything. Through Moses, God revealed His name—“I Am Who I Am”—and made Himself known as a God who hears the cries of His children. The call of Moses is therefore the story of God’s compassion in action: He doesn’t remain distant from our suffering; He enters into it and raises up someone to lead us toward hope.
There is also something deeply personal in this story for each of us. Like Moses, we may feel inadequate or afraid to answer God’s call in our own lives. But the lesson of Moses’ journey is that God equips those He calls. What matters is not our strength, but our trust in His presence. When we say “yes,” even with trembling hearts, God works through our weakness to accomplish His will.
The call of Moses reminds us that God’s plans are always greater than our fears. He chooses the humble to reveal His power and the hesitant to show His faithfulness. Just as God sent Moses to deliver Israel from bondage, He sent Jesus to deliver all humanity from sin — a deeper slavery of the soul. In Christ, the call of Moses finds its fulfillment: God once again steps into history to set His people free.
May we, like Moses, dare to turn aside when God calls our name, trusting that His fire does not consume—it transforms.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
