Callings and shortcomings!

In my chronological Bible reading plan, I have been reading about Moses. In Exodus 3:10, God calls Moses to go to Pharoah and lead Israel out of Egypt. God’s calling is unmistakable! Moses protests God and says, “Who am I to appear before Pharoah? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” And the shortcomings couldn’t be more unmistakable!

Should it surprise us that God’s callings are bigger than our shortcomings? That God is bigger than us? That God should ask us what we can’t do apart from His divine power? What kind of a God would God be if He only called us to do what fits neatly in our box of abilities – never needing Him or His power?

Who are we to think we can’t do what God has called us to? The truth is apart from Him, we can do nothing, not even what we think we can do. Yet, we are comfortable with some callings and not others. At the end of the day, this is just pride, self-reliance, insecurity, and disobedience, to name a few…another way to put it faithless drama.

God enabled Moses despite Moses. God has enabled us despite us!

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3–8, ESV)


Just when it’s getting good…boom!

My chronological Bible reading plan recently introduced me to Joseph. I had never noticed this before, but when Joseph’s life started getting good, it crashed. Three instances stood out to me.

  • Joseph goes from a privileged son to a slave.
  • Joseph goes from managing Potiphar’s household to prison.
  • Joseph goes from being a favored prisoner to being forgotten.

Talk about a rough thirteen years of soul-jarring setbacks! Just when things were getting good, life crashed.

Have you ever felt like this? I have. Several times. Frustrating? YES! What in the world is going on? Why does God allow this to happen?

While this doesn’t make these times any easier, God allows these things to direct our path and grow us. The path and setbacks God has chosen for us are NOT what we would have chosen, but what we have learned and gained through them we are also not willing to give up.

Joseph had no reason to go to Egypt on his own. Joseph could not have become second in command over Egypt on his own. But God got him there through some nasty ups and downs.

So where is God, and why is this happening to me? Hang in there; the setback is not final. It is the end of one leg and the start of the next on our journey with God! The journey is going just where God intends it to go, working out for good for those who love Him.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8, ESV)


Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Genesis 38:1-40:23.