How does Exodus 4:11 emphasize God's sovereignty over human abilities and disabilities? Setting the Scene • Moses is arguing with God at the burning bush, insisting he is “slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). • God replies with a pointed question that resets Moses’ focus from his weakness to God’s power. The Text Itself “Then the LORD said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?’” (Exodus 4:11) What the Verse Declares about God’s Sovereignty • God claims personal authorship over every human faculty—speech, hearing, sight. • By naming opposites (“mute or deaf, seeing or blind”) He covers the full spectrum of abilities and disabilities. • The rhetorical question “Is it not I, the LORD?” leaves no room for chance, genetics, or human autonomy as ultimate causes; God alone is. • He speaks in the present tense—He still governs these matters, not merely at creation but continually (cf. Colossians 1:17). Supporting Passages • Psalm 139:13-16—God knits each person together in the womb; our days are written before one begins. • John 9:1-3—Jesus affirms a man’s blindness existed “so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” • Romans 9:20-21—The potter has rights over the clay to shape vessels as He wills. Implications for Understanding Abilities and Disabilities 1. Divine Purpose – Abilities are gifts, not personal achievements (1 Corinthians 4:7). – Disabilities are not divine oversights; they serve God’s larger plan. 2. Human Value – Worth is rooted in being God-made, not in functional capacity (Genesis 1:27). – The church must honor every member as indispensable (1 Corinthians 12:22-23). 3. Humble Dependence – Like Moses, we move from “I can’t” to “God can through me” (Philippians 4:13). – Refusing to serve because of weakness questions God’s wisdom more than our competence. Encouragement for Daily Life • Celebrate God’s workmanship in yourself and others, whatever the abilities. • View limitations as invitations to rely on the Lord who “made the mouth.” • Serve with confidence; the God who assigns the task also equips for it (2 Corinthians 3:5). |
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