I want to share two stories from the Bible that will help answer this question. You and I are always asking in our humanistic way: Why didn’t God heal him; Why didn’t God stop the incident; Why is God allowing this? These questions are prevalent in our lives daily and it is a study that would take a lot of research. (I have study workbooks available that will delve deeper into these questions if you look at the section of this website under Books and Study Materials.)

For now, I want to talk about two incidents in the Bible when Moses was called by God to do a task and when Paul, the writer and apostle of Christ, was called to spread the gospel to other cities and countries.

Moses was actually a Hebrew but as a young baby was discovered by the sister of the Egyptian Pharoh and so was raised and educated in the Egyptian Pharoh’s house. As an adult, he came upon an incident where a Hebrew slave was being beaten and he killed the Egyptian overseer and buried him so no one would know. But it was found out and he fled Egypt and for forty years he lived as a shepherd in the land of Midian.

At the time God called Moses from a burning bush in the wilderness, he had been a sheep herder for forty years. Moses told God to use his brother Aaron because he could speak better than him. If God had a task for Moses that required him to be well groomed, well versed in the Egyptian language, an orator, persistent, persuading, etc. then why wouldn’t God heal him of his speech impediment? After all, he would be speaking directly to the most important Egyptian Pharaoh, possibly King Ramses II, and he would be asking for the release of 600,00 male slaves and more than that when you add the women and children.

If you are not familiar with the story of God calling Moses to the task of speaking to the Pharoah to release the Israelites who by this time had been in Egyptian bondage for over 400 years, you can read it in Exodus 3:1-14.

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, 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.” Exodus 4:10 NIV

“But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” Exodus 6:28-7:7 Why would God use a man with a speaking problem to do such an overwhelming task?

Now turn your attention to the New Testament and to the prayer of Paul the writer of thirteen or fourteen books or letters in the bible and the man called by God to carry the good news of Christ to many cities and countries. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, you can read that Paul has prayed to God three times for Him to remove the “thorn in the flesh.” Whatever this is, Paul decidedly acknowledges to God that if he is to do the job God has called him to, he will need God to remove the obstacle.

Why didn’t God heal the “thorn” (metaphor for pain) even though he prayed three times for healing, and he was setting out on a massive task that God had placed on his shoulders?

The answer God gave to Moses was: “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now, therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Exodus 4:11-12 ESV

God gave Paul an answer. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Paul added his testimony; “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

When Moses and Paul took their eyes off their situations and focused on the task God had given them, God gave them all that they needed through His power to accomplish the work despite their handicaps. Testimonies and examples of what can happen when we are about the Lord’s business are in the Bible and those lives around you who are dedicating themselves to God’s service.

Jesus said as He prayed to God before the crucifixion: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36 ESV