Being the Odd One Out

Being the Odd One Out

I am slow of speech and tongue. Ex 4:10

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Exodus 4:10-16 (New International Version)

10 Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
14 Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.

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Have you noticed that sometimes life just does not seem to fit? Things are out of
whack! You feel like a duck trying to win a horse race. However, with patience and
trust in God, many of us can look back on days gone by to see that while we didn’t
seem to fit, we were being processed into who we are today. Experiences can enrich
our lives or leave us totally frustrated. It is not the experience that determines the
outcome, it is our own choice of response. We can become bitter or better.

There are individuals in our lives who find it hard to fit. For years, our cities built
sidewalks with curbs. The very measure meant as a convenience ended up limiting
accessibility to our friends using wheelchairs. Public buildings and homes were all
constructed with staircases. In some cases, the stairs became very elaborate and
even served as a focal point. However, for the person who was physically
challenged such contrivances only added to their discomfort.
Stairs just did not fit them.

We have so many similar examples that it is embarrassing. We use doorknobs that
have to be grasped rather than levers that simply require some downward pressure.
We design doors that are too narrow or that don’t provide enough space to close
after entering with a walker or wheelchair.

Moses complained that he stammered. He was not an eloquent speaker and asked
the Lord to use someone else. The role that God assigned to him did not
fit as far as Moses was concerned.

Maybe you have identified individuals who wrestle with physical surroundings that
don’t fit as we would like them to. Have you considered that God called you to
serve Him in some way that does not fit your assessment of suitability? Do you find
your role in life to be unrewarding or a useless squandering of your talents and
gifts? Moses wondered if he had what it takes to accomplish this task of addressing
Pharaoh. Maybe your challenge is that you think you have been prepared for a
much higher calling than that to which God has now led you.

There is a useful observation to make from our account in Exodus. When Moses
failed to accept God’s call for him, God brought Aaron forward as a replacement.
Aaron became the source of Israel’s priesthood who, in turn, was honoured by
God as worthy of presenting the worship offerings of His people.

To be used by God is enough. We will make too many wrong assumptions if we
attempt to evaluate the value of our contribution. To you and me, our calling in life
may not seem to fit. But if we honour God with our best service and determine to
grow in our experience, we will benefit and we will win the prize of
the high calling of Jesus Christ.

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Heavenly Father, things haven’t been going all that well lately. I feel like the odd
person out and wonder why I can’t seem to enjoy the friendships and inclusion that
so many of my friends seem to enjoy. Lord, help me to understand my role in
Your scheme of things. Help me to see Your purpose in a way that will
elicit praise from my heart to You. Amen.

- Noel Churchman

Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.