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Insecurity Rooted in Shame From the Past

Reading Exodus 3, I can not imagine a person better equipped to negotiate the release of the Israelites. Moses would have known the culture and language of the Egyptians; after all, he grew up as one of them. There must have been some favor still within the walls of that palace. Not only did he have an insider understanding of the Egyptians, but he was also of Hebrew blood and could legitimately be a voice for the Israelites. Despite his former position and life experiences, Moses still questions God's call. He responds by saying, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

As a fugitive who ran to escape punishment for his murder of the Egyptian, Moses may have believed that his sinful behavior had disqualified him from God using him. Satan, our enemy, loves to hold our sin and mistakes over us, taunting us that God can't work in our life because of our past. But here, we see it demonstrated that God is a God of mercy. He doesn't discredit Moses because of his past. In the same way, when we ask God to forgive us of our sin, he doesn't hold it against us. 

In Psalm 103, David, who had committed a terrible sin by murdering Uriah and taking his wife, understood that although God did not remove the consequences of his sin, his mercy was still great towards him. He said this of God.

"'10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

    or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us."'

If God can forgive Moses and David, indeed, there is nothing you have done that God cannot forgive. 

Daily Challenge: Are you feeling weighed down by shame from your past? Read over these verses in Psalm 103, reminding yourself that if you have repented of your sin, as David had done, that God has already forgiven you.