The Excuses of Moses Exodus 3 & 4 God called to Moses from the midst of a burning bush God called Moses to the task of leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage In response, Moses gave excuses as to why he was not the man for the job.

“Who Am I?” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11

“Who Am I?” Moses had been gone from Egypt for 40 years, a mere shepherd. He was an 80 year old man. God’s response: “I will certainly be with you” (vs. 12). (This should be sufficient) God is with us, too! (Romans 8:31)

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

“Who Am I?” Moses had been gone from Egypt for 40 years, a mere shepherd. He was an 80 year old man. God’s response: “I will certainly be with you” (vs. 12). (This should be sufficient) God is with us, too! (Romans 8:31) God makes us sufficient (2 Corinthians 3:5-6; Philippians 4:13)

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

“What Shall I Say?” Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” Exodus 3:11

“What Shall I Say?” Moses knew if he went to the children of Israel, they would have questions for him. He felt inadequate, in need of guidance. God’s immediately told him what to say: “Thus you shall say” (vs. 14).

Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

“What Shall I Say?” Moses knew if he went to the children of Israel, they would have questions for him. He felt inadequate, in need of guidance. God’s immediately told him what to say: “Thus you shall say” (vs. 14). We too may feel our knowledge is inadequate, but God has given us what to say! (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

“Suppose They Will Not Believe Me?” Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” Exodus 4:1

“Suppose They Will Not Believe Me?” Moses seems to be afraid of failing. This shows a lack of faith in God’s help. God gives him three strong signs: The Rod (4:2-5); His Own Hand (4:6-8); and the Water (4:9).

Exodus 4:2-5 So the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” 3 And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 “that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

Exodus 4:6-8 Furthermore the LORD said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 8 “Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign.”

Exodus 4:9 “And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.”

“Suppose They Will Not Believe Me?” Moses seems to be afraid of failing. This shows a lack of faith in God’s help. God gives him three strong signs: The Rod (4:2-5); His Own Hand (4:6-8); and the Water (4:9). We too may allow a fear of failure to keep us from sharing the gospel. Remember, the power is in the Word! (Romans 10:17)

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

“Suppose They Will Not Believe Me?” Moses seems to be afraid of failing. This shows a lack of faith in God’s help. God gives him three strong signs: The Rod (4:2-5); His Own Hand (4:6-8); and the Water (4:9). We too may allow a fear of failure to keep us from sharing the gospel. Remember, the power is in the Word! (Romans 10:17) We too have proofs (John 20:30-31)

John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

“I Am Slow of Speech” Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Exodus 4:10

“I Am Slow of Speech” God was unmoved by this excuse. He knows the inadequacies of those He calls (4:12). He gave Aaron to be a spokesman (4:14-16).

Exodus 4:12 “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” Moses did not need to worry about his speech or tongue. God knew of his impediment, but would through His power give Moses what was needed.

Exodus 4:14-16 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.”

“I Am Slow of Speech” God was unmoved by this excuse. He knows the inadequacies of those He calls (4:12). He gave Aaron to be a spokesman (4:14-16). We sometimes make the same excuse. But, it did not stop Paul! (1 Corinthians 2:1, 3-4)

1 Corinthians 2:1, 3-4 (2:1), And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. (2:3-4), I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

“I Am Slow of Speech” God was unmoved by this excuse. He knows the inadequacies of those He calls (4:12). He gave Aaron to be a spokesman (4:14-16). We sometimes make the same excuse. But, it did not stop Paul! (1 Corinthians 2:1, 3-4) At the least, we can arrange studies for others (cf. Acts 10:24,33)

Acts 10:24, 33 (10:24), And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. (10:33), “So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Please Send Someone Else! But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” Exodus 4:13

Please Send Someone Else! Moses simply did not want to go. He was shirking his responsibility, and angered God (4:14)

Exodus 4:14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.”

Please Send Someone Else! Moses simply did not want to go. He was shirking his responsibility, and angered God (4:14) The previous excuses were simply a smokescreen. Here was the real problem! We can be guilty of the same. Our “reasons” are really only smokescreens. We do not want to do what the Lord requires of us! If so, we need to repent!

Romans 1:15-16 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. If we are unwilling to serve God by preaching the gospel, who will?

Conclusion The rest of the story. Moses answered God’s call, and led Israel out of Egypt, and to the borders of the land of promise. What will be the rest of our story? Will we continue with excuses? Or lead the lost to glory?