The American Bowl was a series of NFL pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside the United States from 1986-2005 to promote football in other countries. My first job after graduate school was to help launch a sports event arm of a small sports company based in Tokyo. We were a small company of five, I had no staff on my “team”, and had zero clients but I sensed God telling me to dream BIG so I set my sites on the NFL as a client since we were the only American sports marketing company in Japan at the time. YOLO!
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering…… So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.” — Exodus 3:7-12
When God asked Moses to help Him set the people of Israel free from over 400 years of slavery, I think Moses was initially all in until his mind quickly went to all that he would have to overcome to fulfill that mission.
- I’ll have to convince the people of Israel to follow me.
- I’ll have to stand up to Pharaoh and the army of Egypt.
- What if Pharaoh doesn’t believe or listen to me?
- I’m a poor communicator.
An exciting opportunity suddenly became an uphill vision. It was clear that Moses was thinking about his abilities, skills, and strength. He was thinking about himself and what he could do or not do, not realizing, He had the God of unlimited ability & power willing to extend a hand. When we have the God of the universe with us– the God who tells oceans where to stop, the God who parts the Seas, and the God who can change molecular structure of water into wine– why wouldn’t we take Him up on His offer?
You see I think verse 12 “I will be with you” gets lost in all of the sermons on Moses. It’s the “hey, if you need help moving this weekend, just give me a call” or “Just let me know if you need help fixing the dishwasher” lines from your friends. It’s up to me to take the offer. Moses had a choice. He could have gone alone, he could have passed, he could have done it his way, he could have tried going around Pharaoh, but he was wise enough to trust the God who operates in the tough, the messy, the perseverance, and who gave him a personal commitment that said “I will be WITH you” to take Him up on His offer to go thru it with him. This is not a case of us inviting Him in or to something where God has the choice of saying yes or no. God is always offering His services–Himself– and the ball is in our court. Are you stuck trying to do something in your own strength right now? Accept His offer to go thru it together, in a way like never before.
After a few months into the events job (click here to read a post that details this journey), I couldn’t get one client and began giving up on my dream until I took Jesus up on his offer. Shortly after, a man from Converse Japan, told me the NFL was in Tokyo so I waited all day in the Hotel New Otani lobby to meet the NFL VP of Int’l unannounced. I fought hard against every one of his objections on why not to hire us, believing that God was with me & ahead of me, and finally was given the chance to play a small role in promoting the event leading up to the 1990 Tokyo American Bowl game. The NFL sent me a player named John Elway for our first promotional event! I was trying to do it myself, alone, and around it, but I had to take Him up on His offer to go thru it together.
God size visions are often hard-size missions. Doing something significant and worthwhile with your life is never easy. Get ready for what God wants to do for you, to you, in you, and thru you when you simply take Him up on His offer to join the process.
Question |
What are you trying to do alone that you need to take Him up on His offer?