03/18/2018
Has God placed something on your heart, or called you to do a work for Him that you are not doing? Have you listened to his voice speaking within you and made excuses to avoid performing as He has asked? We make lots of excuses when God speaks, sometimes because what He asks sounds hard, sometimes because it requires sacrifice, and sometimes because we doubt our ability. Are you in the midst of this right now?
We look at bible heroes and see our inadequacy. Moses was a powerful man of God, and we use him as our first excuse for not doing what God has asked of us. We say to ourselves that we are just a lowly person without such ability, and that someone else should be asked to do whatever God has laid on our heart, but Moses didn’t begin powerful. Moses began as a humbled man of great doubt and reluctance... just like you.
Let’s listen to all of Moses’ excuses when God called him, and hear God’s answer to each of them. Do they sound familiar? They should because our excuses are nothing new... God has heard them all.
Moses had murdered a man and was hiding out in the mountains working as a shepherd. He was confused about who he was... was he a Hebrew who believed in God, or an Egyptian who believed in their gods? So his first excuse was “Who am I to go?” Do you see yourself as a sinner and unworthy? Well, Jesus has chosen you and called you to repent... Listen.
Excuse 1: I’m not the right person for the job.
“But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"”
Exodus 3:11 ESV
God’s Answer: I have chosen you and will be with you
“He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."”
Exodus 3:12 ESV
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Then Moses said that he didn’t even know the name of God. How could he possibly go? Have you felt inadequate in this way? Have you felt that you didn’t know God well enough to serve Him? Listen as Moses uses this excuse ...
Excuse 2: I’m not knowledgeable in you. I don’t have all the answers.
“Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"”
Exodus 3:13 ESV
God’s Answer: I will reveal them to you.
“God said to Moses, " I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: ' I am has sent me to you.'"”
Exodus 3:14 ESV
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Moses then felt that no one would believe that God really sent him. Do you feel this way too; is this your excuse? Do you think that you will appear to be a hypocrite or a fraud? Well, if you have been asked to do a work, then God will vouch for you by way of Jesus Christ and His Word to do that work. You are His chosen.
Excuse 3: No one will believe me.
“Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'"”
Exodus 4:1 ESV
God’s Answer: I will give you signs and miracles.
“The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.”
Exodus 4:2-3 ESV
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Moses didn’t think he had the skills needed to do the job; after all he had a problem speaking... how could he stand in the Pharaoh’s court and deliver God’s message? Is there some physical trait that you see as an encumbrance? Perhaps it is as simple as a paralyzing fear of public speaking. Whatever it is, God will help you through it! Listen.
Excuse 4: I’m not a good speaker.
“But Moses said to the Lord, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."”
Exodus 4:10 ESV
God’s Answer: I will tell you what to say.
“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
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Finally, when all of the other excuses hadn’t worked, Moses fell back on the old standby excuse... I’m just not good enough, please send someone else. Is this your excuse too when all of the others have been rebuffed? Do you throw up your hands and say I’m not good enough? Well God has an answer to this as well; He will send the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and maybe even your own brother, to help you. Face it... you have been called, and He is not going to let you off the hook! Listen.
Excuse 5: I am just not good enough.
“But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."”
Exodus 4:13 ESV
God’s Answer: I’ll give you a helper.
“Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.”
Exodus 4:14-15 ESV
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So Moses didn’t start off a great and self-assured man. He waffled, and made every excuse he could think of, but God continued to call Him. God will continue to call you as well. You may ignore Him, or even deny Him, but He will be persistent... what are your excuses? What problems do you have in your life, physical encumbrances, or doubts in your faith, that you should keep using them as excuses? Do you think any of them are beyond God’s ability to solve?
“"Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
Exodus 15:11 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for calling me in my lowliness to serve you, and I thank you for making me more than I am as I do your bidding. You take the blind and give them sight, you take the lame and allow them to walk once more, and you take my shortcomings and remove them from me. Your greatness is without question, and you take all of my issues and turn them to goodness as I serve you... my tremors suddenly allow me to spread your seed more perfectly, and the lisp of Moses becomes the trademark of your Word. There is no frailty that you cannot use, and no wound you cannot heal. Great are you my God. Help me now to see that you will be with me in all you ask of me. Give me the faith to answer when you call; let me trust in your hand as it guides and provides for me, even as I bend to your will. Replace my excuses with your strength, provision, and courage, then lead me to your field that I might work it, and make it bountiful in the harvest season; plentiful for your table, and to your glory. You are my God, and in you I find my answers to every question, the rebuff to every excuse, the joy in my capitulation. Holy, Holy, Holy, art thou my God, and greatly to be praised.
Rich Forbes