
I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind?
Exodus 4: 10 – 12
When I took up God’s challenge to work with disabled people overseas it seemed like an unlikely career for someone whose principle mode of transport was a wheelchair. Well that was my thought and pretty much everyone else’s I knew at the time. The principle requirements for overseas work being everything I was not: a strong physique, energetic, fearless, be prepared to go to far-flung places, and quite possibly a change of dress code, Missionary style!
But truth told, when God calls you to do something he generally equips you to carry it out. Of course, I know this NOW, but 24 years ago I wasn’t so sure. I certainly didn’t say, “OK, I’ll give it a go Lord” with any degree confidence. In fact, I’m pretty sure my attitude was similar to Moses’. However, I suspect it wasn’t Moses’ struggle with speech holding him back, but the enormity of the task that God had put before him. Certainly from a physical access point of view, God provided Aaron to do most of his talking for him. All Moses had to do in that respect was to was to obey God’s leading and equip Aaron to be his witness. Simple.
What might be more problematic for many of us reading this public/private exchange between God and Moses, particularly if we are living with a disability, is the realization that a Creator God seems almost proud of the fact that he deliberately chose infirmity when he created Moses. Yet, we see that God doesn’t shy away from taking responsibility for this. By the same token he doesn’t shy away from including Moses in his plan for rescuing Israel either. This was true for me, and most likely true for the many who also said “OK, Lord, I’ll give a go.” God foresaw how our lives would unfold (Psalm 139v16) so this suggests planning, design, and intent. For him our lives were not an error of judgement, or objects of ridicule (or even inspiration). This passage is reminds us that he is in control and has a carefully worked out plan for everyone he has created even if we and those around us don’t believe it.
REFLECT…
PRAY…
& STEP OUT
On the story of Patric D’Souza in his article “Do your best. God will do the rest” is great example of tenacity over infirmity. Just one of many stories on Everyone is good a something international storytelling platform.
For the ‘whole’ person with wisdom and open-mindedness that they become whoever God has created them to be doing whatever he has created them to do.
Consider what an abundant life would look like to Jesus.
Might a shift in focus be needed when you pray for disabled people that you know or know of?