Written by Uyoyou Charles-Iyoha
Self imposed limitations are the limitations a person, a
family, institution, community or nations imposes on themselves to limit them
from progressing to God’s very best plans and purposes for their lives. Moses for
instance tried to place limits on himself when God called him at the burning
bush. First, he gave the excuse of being an inconsequential person to stand
before Pharaoh; not only to demand the release of the children of Israel from
Egypt but also to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. When eventually
God assured Moses that He would be with him, Moses gave yet another excuse of
being a person of a slow tongue. God also reassured him that He would be with
his mouth in addition to teaching him what to say. Beloved, is Moses not forgetting
something here? Was the God Who created him and Who chose him and promised to
be with him not capable of addressing whatever issues he had with his mouth?
Just like the rest of us, Moses displayed his human frailties by showcasing his
weakness, thereby imposing personal limitations on himself with the excuses he
gave. God however overwrote the limitations and excuses and still made Moses go
to Egypt and accomplish the task of standing before Pharaoh as well as bringing
the children of Israel out of Egypt.
How did Moses come about the limitations? He was looking at
his fleshly capacities and not the power of God that was fully behind him and
was with him all the way. Why was he afraid to stand before Pharaoh? After all,
he was raised in the palace of Egypt as royalty and had stood before Pharaoh
before! Why was he suddenly conscious of the fact that he stammered? The circumstances
of life that Moses had experienced were responsible for the limitations he
imposed on himself. He was a fugitive running from justice in Egypt – he killed
a man and could be tried for murder and that had significantly impacted his
status as he lacked the princely power and robe to stand before Pharaoh. So as
far as Moses was concerned, he was an insignificant person before Pharaoh. But unknown
to Moses, God had made him a great man before Pharaoh and he could literally
bring Pharaoh to his knees if only he knew that God was with him over and above
Pharaoh and everyone else that appeared to matter in Egypt. Please read Exodus
Chapter 3 verses 1 to 2, please note verses 11 to 12, 4 verses 1 to 17, note
verses 10 to 15.
Gideon also tried to impose limitations on himself by highlighting
his origin – he was the least in his father’s house and was from the weakest
clan in Manasseh. But God overwrote the excuses and told Gideon that He was
with him and would always be with him. This implies that Gideon’s lineage and
genealogy did not really matter. What mattered was the Presence of God in the
life of Gideon. Please read Judges Chapter 6. In like manner, Moses’ past and
disabilities were inconsequential to the plans and purposes of God for his
life. What was consequential, important and relevant and significant was the
Presence of God in his life, the life of Gideon and anyone God calls to
implement and accomplish divine purpose. Background, etc which could constitute
personal limitations are inconsequential. The Presence of God is what matters.
The prophet Jeremiah was afraid of God’s call upon his life
and gave the excuse of being a youth; a self imposed limitation based on
cultural practices and prejudices. Who was a mere youth to speak to the nations
as a prophet of God. God overwrote the personal limitation Jeremiah placed on
himself on account of cultural prejudices. God promised to be with Jeremiah. Beloved,
please note that the emphasis is on the Presence of God, not a great age, not
who knows you or your family as being from the largest or strongest ethnic
group in the land or the biggest, strongest or richest nation in the world.
Please read Jeremiah Chapter 1 verses 1 to 10, 1st Corinthians
Chapter 1 verses 25 to 29.
