The Excuses of Moses
Exodus 3:1 – 10
When God appeared to Moses at the burning bush He had a special job for him to do, God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Now being the great bible character that we know Moses to be, we would have expected him to say, “No problem I’ll see you on the other side of the Red Sea”
However, in response to God’s call we see Moses giving a number of reasons (excuses) as to why he thought he was “Not the man for the job” Tonight I want us to look at the excuses Moses usees, but more importantly the Response that God gives to each of them.
As Gods people we all have a special calling from God. Not to go to rescue a people in physical bondage, but to rescue the world in the bondage of sin.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Too often though we find ourselves using the same excuses as Moses did.
Definition
EXCU’SE = A plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology. Every man has an excuse to offer for his neglect of duty; the debtor makes excuses for delay of payment.
1. The act of excusing or apologizing.
2. That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault. His inability to comply with the request must be his excuse.
Excuses are one of our greatest enemies, they can slow us down, prevent us from action, and they are false reasons for inactivity.
Excuse No 1 : (Ex 3:11) – Who am I?
Moses was unknown to Pharaoh. Egypt had a great king, they had a huge army that was able to defend the country, and they could have easily prevented the Israelites’ leaving.
A long time ago Moses had been part of the Royal setup as he was the adopted son of the king’s daughter; but now it was quite different. Moses was a private person, an exile in a foreign country, a poor shepherd. Isn’t it amazing how God uses people who cannot boast of themselves to say, “Look what I have done!” – David – shepherd
It had taken God 40 years to break Moses so that he could be used. Remember he killed the Egyptian; it was as if he were trying to save his people on his own, and he was rejected. Now at 80 God calls him because Moses is ready to be used to free God’s people. (but says “Who am I”)
Response No 1: (Ex 3:12)
God’s response was quick and should have been enough. God would be with Moses to encourage and strengthen him; to protect and defend.
God promised to be with Moses and this should have been sufficient, as Paul later wrote in Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Some of us use the same excuse today – Who am I?
We try to excuse ourselves by saying that we are insufficient for the task, it is true that we are insufficient but God alone can make us sufficient - 2Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Just remember, we will always be sufficient for the task that God has called us to do because He works through us.
Look at what he did with the Apostles in Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Through Jesus God has given us the same assurance that He gave to Moses, He has promised us the he will be with us always, even unto the end of the world (Mat28:20). He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb13:5) With His help we can accomplish anything He wants us to do. Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Excuse No 2 : (Ex 3:13) – What Shall I Say?
Moses doesn’t know how he will convince the children of Israel that he is Gods ambassador.. and they shall say unto me, what is his name? This question would not be through ignorance because they had called upon the name of the Lord, and cried to him for help and deliverance because of their situation. Maybe they would try and test Moses to see what knowledge he had of God.
Moses is unsure about what he will say to them.
Response No 2: (Ex 3:14 – 15)
God tells Moses what to say in response to that question. If they ask who sent you tell them my name – Jehovah – I AM THAT I AM. I AM has sent you to them.The name of God that Moses was to use expresses the absolute, unchanging and eternal being of God. I was, I am, I always will be…. God is the same – Unchanging.
We use the same excuse today – What shall I say?
We try to excuse ourselves by saying that we don’t know what to say or we don’t know enough. But God has told us what to say. Everything we need to say is right here! Mark 16:15 – Christ tells us what to say, preach the Gospel, tell people the good news.. all in the book. We don’t need to add to or take from it, tell people the truth… It hurts, but hell will hurt more.
Excuse No 3: (Ex 4:1) – Suppose they will not believe me?
Now that he knows what to say his excuse is that the people may not listen, is he afraid of failing? The Lord has told that He will be with him? Moses was afraid that the people would not believe that God had appeared to him through the burning bush. Moses seams to ask how he will prove to everyone that God had appeared to him, spoke to him and sent him. Moses wanted to prove that he had been in God’s very presence.
Response No 3:
God responds by giving Moses the power to perform miracles, the ROD which turns into a serpent (Ex4:2-5). His own hand which turns leprous and then whole again (Ex4:6-8). And the WATER which turned to blood (Ex4:9)
We hesitate to share the Gospel for the same reason – suppose they won’t believe me?
The fear of failure keeps us from trying, but just as God gave Moses convincing proof, He has also given us evidence necessary to convince people. The word of God is able to produce faith. Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God has also given us the evidence of fulfilled prophecy, did you know that there were 25 distinct prophecies fulfilled on the cross? We have the evidence of an empty tomb. We have the evidence of a new life (birth – new creature)
Excuse No 4: (Ex 4:10) I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.
Moses seems to ignore the miracle that God had performed in front of his very eyes and is still unwilling to do what God is calling him to do. He comes up with another excuse after all the others had been sufficiently answered.
Moses says that he is not eloquent, meaning that he was not a man of words who could speak well or make fine speeches to the king’s court. Maybe he had a speech impediment; maybe he was worried about his accent, he was an Israelite, brought up in Egypt, living in Midian!!!
Response No 4: (Ex 4:11)
God is not moved by this excuse. He knows the inability of those He calls and can make up for anyone’s shortcomings. Again He promises to be with Moses in verse 12 and God also arranges for Aaron to be Moses’ mouthpiece who arrives at precisely the right time in verse 27.
Do we hold back today because of our speech / accent??? (I am from Wales and whenever I visit churches in America some people have difficulty with my accent)
Look at Paul 1 Corinthians 2:1 – 4
Some say that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was his speech, that he had a funny voice???? That didn’t stop him – he preached Christ and Christ crucified.
Mathew Henry says “Paul preached the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness. They know how insufficient they are, and are fearful for themselves. When nothing but Christ crucified is plainly preached, the success must be entirely from Divine power accompanying the word, and thus men are brought to believe, to the salvation of their souls.
Don’t worry what you sound like, just use the Word, it’s sharp and powerful – two edged sword.
We have heard 4 excuses offered by Moses. Who am I? What shall I say? What if they don’t believe me? I don’t speak well. True reason is revealed in the final excuse.
Excuse No 5: (Ex 4:13) – Send Someone Else.
Bottom line – Moses didn’t want to go.
Could the previous excuse have been just a smokescreen to hide this fact? Does this show a lack of faith in God? The Hebrew shelach na beyad tishlach literally translated is, Send now, I beseech thee by the hand thou wilt send; which seems to say, Send a person more fit for the work than I am. Now that this smokescreen is removed God’s anger is kindled against Moses.
Response 5: (Ex 4:14)
Kindled (khaw-raw)’ to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy: be angry, burn, be displeased, grieve, be wroth.
The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses because of the objections, excuses, and delays he made with respect to his mission and his calling. The Lord was angry with Moses.
Is the same true with us today, would we rather God just use someone else?
This reminds me of the 4 Christians, Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was a special job to do. Preach the Gospel. Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody.
If our boss in work asks us to do something we do it right away, no questions asked, therefore why wouldn’t we do what our Heavenly Father has called us to do?
Everyone’s call is different, preach, sing, pray, Sunday School, listen, talk, life.
If God calls us to do something, let’s not make excuses.
Conclusion
With Moses we know the rest of the story, he answered the call and went to Egypt, God used Moses to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.
But what about us? What will the rest of our story be? Shall we heed the call of God? If you are here tonight and you feel God speaking to your heart to do something for Him, don’t make excuses, just answer the call. Whatever God calls us to do, He equips us for that call.
Remember, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
