To evaluate if a person is suitable for a particular ministry, we normally look at the person’s skills or abilities. We also look for spiritual maturity in the person. Our tendency is to choose someone with the most experience or the most confidence. We often use the criteria of the world to evaluate the person. Some think that if a person shows himself to be capable in the world, he must surely be very good in God’s service. 

However, God focuses on spiritual qualifications. One qualification for service, which is always implied, is humility. Without humility one cannot serve the Lord. If we are proud, God will have to humble us to use us. Exodus 2:1-15 shows us how God prepared Moses’ heart to serve Him.

1. Moses’ birth in humility (Exod 2:1-4): Fear and death were the realities at the time of Moses’ birth. It was a time of persecution when great faith was exhibited. Moses’ parents had great faith (Heb 11:23). They were not afraid of the king’s command. In the midst of idolatry and persecution, God used Moses’ parents to prepare Moses for the work he was to do.

We are living in such a world today. A world that is against Christ. Are Christian parents exercising such faith today?

2. The challenge to humility (Exod 2:10): Moses received much training as he grew up to become great in the Egyptian palace as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He was eloquent and intelligent. It was at this time that he was most vulnerable to pride. Pride is the challenge to humility.

3. Lesson of humility (Exod 2:11-15). As Moses grew, he had to exercise his faith. He did not want to be identified with the Egyptians, but with the people of God. He had faith but he allowed pride to get to him. He succumbed to the flesh and slew an Egyptian. God’s work cannot be accomplished by carnal means. Moses had the right intention, but he did it in a sinful way. The Lord could not use him at that time. Moses went to Midian to escape from Pharoah. There, the Lord humbled him. He had to learn the lesson of humility for God to use him.

Have you been relying on God? Or on your own strength and wisdom? Always seek the Lord and be humble. Humility is needed to serve God.