The Mirror of Man

“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

Man is the apex of God’s creation and unlike any animal. Many scientists and biologists have attempted to show that we are descendants of monkeys, but such a theory cannot be true. While both man and animal possess the breath of life, only man is created in the image of God. Man and animal are like furniture in a room. There are various animals just as there are various kinds of furniture and much of the furniture is alike. And each of them, for the sake of illustration, possesses the breath of life. But it is the mirror that differs from all the others. For it is in the mirror alone that all others can be seen. The table may be round like the mirror, but one cannot see anything else in the table. It is the mirror that contains all others. It is no wonder then, that man is that mirror. For only in man can all other categories wherein is the breath of life be seen and marveled at. And while within man is the breath of life, the ultimate reflection of man is not creation, but the Creator. We alone were created to reflect the image of God—animals were not.

Man is the climax of God’s creation, as our passage today so adroitly reminds us. God speaks to Moses commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. But Moses protests citing his inability to think quickly or speak as eloquently as such a task requires. Angered at his lack of faith, God reminds Moses that it is not about his ability, but God’s. Through a series of questions he reminds him that it is God alone who made and fashioned man. And it is God alone who will bring this task to completion. He says, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” He then says, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

It is God who enables us to lead and do great things in His name. What has God called you to do? If God has called you, then know that He will equip you. It doesn’t matter how great the task. As Phillip Brooks said, “Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.”

May God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who created us to reflect His glory, continually enable us to take great steps of faith for His glory. May we, God’s image bearers, trust in His Word, and follow His command, for in doing so we experience God’s majestic presence and are filled with the joy of doing what we were made to do—glorify Him. Amen.