Exactly What We Need – Family Devotion – March 23, 2022

Read: Exodus 3:1-15

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

And God said, “I will be with you.”
Exodus 3:11,12

Exactly What We Need

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Being a kid is pretty great sometimes. You play games and participate in fun activities. You go to birthday parties and have sleepovers with your friends. Your parents feed you and drive you places, and you don’t have as many responsibilities as adults do.

But there are other times when being a kid isn’t all that great. School can be hard, and it can feel like there’s just too much to learn. You often have fun with your friends, but you don’t always feel like you fit in. And sometimes, you aren’t tall enough or smart enough or grown-up enough to easily do things. Sometimes, you just can’t get everything done on your own.

Moses felt the same way, even though he wasn’t a kid anymore. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and told him that it was time to rescue his people from slavery. God wanted to use Moses as part of his rescue.

But Moses didn’t think he was up to the task. He hadn’t grown up among the Israelites; Pharaoh’s daughter adopted and raised him as an Egyptian. He had never been eloquent—he wasn’t a good speaker—and he didn’t think he could convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. In the next chapter of Exodus, Moses flat out asked God to change his mind and send someone else.

Moses was right: he couldn’t get this job done on his own. That’s the beauty of today’s devotion: he didn’t have to. God promised that he would be with Moses, that he would give Moses miracles (awesome displays of God’s power), and that he would provide the words for Moses to say.

God might not speak through burning bushes today, but he still calls us to follow him. He calls us to tell how Jesus rescued us and how to live our lives in ways that show we are his people. Like Moses, we can’t get this done on our own—but we don’t have to. God promises to be with us every step of the way, and he promises to give us exactly what we need to carry out our calling. What an amazing promise!

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for giving us everything we need to carry out our callings. Help us to look to you for strength as we seek to tell others about you and live lives that reflect the faith we have. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• If you haven’t already, read Exodus 3:1-4. How did God speak to Moses?
• Why didn’t Moses want to go and talk to Pharaoh?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Think of something that you can’t get done on your own. Who can you ask to help you accomplish this job?
• God said, “I will be with you.” Take a moment to think and then share a way you will rely on that promise of God this week.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Moses heard God’s voice through a burning bush. How do you hear God’s voice today?
• God sent Moses’ brother Aaron along with him to help Moses and speak for him. Name someone in your life who can help you in the same way. How specifically do they help you?