Emphasis On the Wrong Syllable

Have you ever tried to learn a new word? Maybe it’s another language or just a word you’ve never heard before? It’s quite possible in this situation you would miss pronounce the word by putting the emphasis on the wrong syllable.

Today we find ourselves in Exodus 3 & 4 where God commissions Moses. In chapter 3 God tells Moses in great detail exactly what he’s going to do for the Israelites. In chapter 4 Moses proceeds to tell God how unequipped he is and how God should choose someone else instead of him. Moses tells God that people won’t believe him, how he is slow of speech and is simply unfit for the job. He tells God he has chosen the wrong guy, as though the God of the universe can’t accomplish the things he wants to do, if Moses is a part of it. We find God‘s response to Moses in vs. 11.

Ex. 4:11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? “Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

In chapter 3 Moses listens to what God said He was going to do, but he was focusing on the wrong part of the story. Instead of focusing on what God was going to do, he was focusing on his own part of the story. It’s like Moses was putting the emphasis on the wrong syllable. He got all the characters right but he was focusing and putting the emphasis on the wrong part of the word.

Let’s try something. Read this next sentence while putting the emphasis on the bolded part of the word… “He put the emphasis on the wrong syllable.” Now try it again this way… “He put the emphasis on the wrong syllable.” Isn’t that what we do sometimes in our life? All the characters were there, but we were focusing and putting the emphasis on the wrong part. Sometimes we look at our circumstances, our inabilities, the evil in the world, and we get distracted and stop focusing on the most important part. We must focus on God, on his ability, his power, sovereignty, holiness, and most of all, his great love for us.

In verses 14 through 17 it says that Gods anger is kindled at Moses’ response. I expect at this point that God will say, “Fine! If you don’t want to be part of this, I’ll choose someone else!” Isn’t that the way we would respond? I know I certainly would be tempted to respond that way. However God does not respond that way. God controls his anger and finds compassion for Moses and his insecurities and he graciously allows Aaron to assist Moses. He does this because he loves Moses and doesn’t want him to miss out on the miracle. He knows this miracle, this amazing event, will prove to Moses that it doesn’t matter what he brings to the table. The only thing that matters is that God is in it. God is looking for Moses to be obedient and trust him. That is all. God will do the rest.

Prayer: Dear God, we appreciate your love, grace and mercy towards us. Please help us each to trust you. Help us to keep our hearts, our minds and our eyes on you and not ourselves or our circumstances. Help us to trust you and follow you wherever you want to lead us.

Let’s focus on Him now as we listen to this song.