By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 2: The Sovereignty of the Call
Week 8: The Human Struggle (Reluctance & Fear)
Anchor Scripture: “Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? … Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’” — Exodus 4:10–12 (NKJV)
As we move into the third week of this month, we address the reality that the sovereign call of God almost always meets the resistance of the human ego. This week is about The Human Struggle. We begin with the most common excuse in the history of the prophetic: the feeling of inadequacy.
The Teaching
There is a profound irony in the prophetic calling: God often chooses people who feel they lack the very skill the office requires. Moses was called to be the primary spokesman for a nation, yet his first response was to point out his lack of eloquence. He wasn’t being humble; he was being “self-conscious.” He was looking at his own “slow tongue” rather than the “Sovereign Hand” that made the tongue.
The “I Can’t Speak” excuse is a classic sign of the human struggle with the call. When God identifies you as His messenger, your natural instinct is to perform a self-audit. You look at your education, your vocabulary, your personality, or your past failures, and you conclude that God has made a mistake. But God’s response to Moses is the definitive answer to every prophet’s insecurity: “Who has made man’s mouth?”
Sovereignty means that God is not looking for your ability; He is looking for your availability. He does not need your eloquence; He needs your vocal cords. If He made the mouth, He can certainly manage the message. The feeling of inadequacy is actually a prerequisite for the office, because it ensures that when you finally do speak, you will be leaning entirely on the Holy Spirit rather than on your own cleverness.
Prophetic Insight
If you feel “unqualified” to speak for God, congratulations—you are in great company. Every major prophet in Scripture tried to disqualify themselves. This feeling of inadequacy is a safety mechanism. It keeps the prophet from becoming a “performer.” If you were naturally gifted at public speaking, you might be tempted to rely on your charm. But because you feel “slow of speech,” you are forced to wait for the “unction.” Do not let your perceived limitations silence you. Your mouth is not your property; it is the Creator’s instrument. He will be “with your mouth,” and that is more than enough.
The Activation
Identify the specific “inadequacy” you’ve been using as an excuse to stay silent—is it your lack of Bible knowledge, your personality, or a literal fear of speaking? Today, take that excuse and lay it on the altar. Say to the Lord: “I am slow of speech, but You are the Maker of the mouth. I stop looking at my tongue and start looking at Your Truth. I am ready to go.”
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You do not call the qualified, but You qualify the called. I repent for using my weaknesses as an excuse to avoid Your mandate. I acknowledge today that You are the Maker of my mouth. I surrender my tongue, my vocabulary, and my speech to You. Be with my mouth today and teach me what I shall say. Amen.
