• We have excuses for not doing those things we know we ought to do.
• We have ‘our’ reasons for not stepping forward to do those things we know the LORD has called us to do.
• We can ‘wait it out,’ hoping the LORD forgets or turns to seek someone else.  OR
• We can ‘hide from God’ hoping HE takes His eyes off us to look at another for the task we know HE has called us to do.

Moses was an old man, eighty-years-old, a grandpa age, and a man with a past.  He knew he was a murderer, a man who had grown up in a foster-kind-of-home, living under Pharoah’s roof since he was a small babe found in a basket on the Nile River.  Moses also knew the LORD’S calling on his life; he felt it deep within his being.  Moses felt compassion for the Israelites, his people, and Moses saw their oppression; yet, even still, when called by the Creator of the universe, Moses did what most of us do—HE MADE EXCUSES WHY HE COULD NOT & SHOULD NOT DO THE TASK THE LORD CALLED HIM TO.

EXCUSE #1—

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

GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT—

“And He said, [GOD spoke these words to Moses]

“Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you:  when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” (Exodus 3: 12 NASB)

Deliverance did not depend on Moses but God—His Power & His Sufficiency.  When God selects people to serve His purpose, God always provides His resources.

EXCUSE #2—

“Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3: 13 NASB)

GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT—

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” ;

And He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “ (Exodus 3: 14 NASB)

Moses was afraid the Israelites would ask him a question he could not answer, and God assured His servant by revealing HIS IDENTITY to Moses.  God revealed Himself.  When we reveal how we are not enough, not smart enough and not capable enough—GOD SAYS:  “I AM!”

EXCUSE #3—

“Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ “ (Exodus 4: 1 NASB)

GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT—

“They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ “ (Exodus 3: 18 NASB)

Isn’t that just like God, to suppress our excuses even before we voice them? !In chapter 3, God had already promised Moses the people would listen, but even if they do not believe Moses or take him seriously, they would believe because of the three powerful signs God promised to perform through Moses.

EXCUSE #4—

“Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (Exodus 4: 10 NASB)

GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT—

“God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial name to all generations.” (Exodus 3: 15 NASB)

Just as with the third excuse, in the preceding chapter 3, God had instructed Moses what to say & promised him how the people would listen.  Still though, Moses continued to make excuses, so God asks Moses three questions:

“The LORD said to him,

• “Who has made man’s mouth?
• Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind?
• Is it not I, the LORD?

Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” (Exodus 4: 11-12 NASB)

Moses had run out of excuses!

It is at this moment when Moses reveals—The Heart of the Matter!

It was not that Moses was inadequate for the task OR that Moses did not know enough OR that the people would not take him seriously OR that Moses stuttered when he spoke.  THE REAL TRUTH WAS THAT MOSES WAS JUST NOT WILLING TO DO THAT WHICH THE LORD HAD CALLED HIM TO DO!

I just don’t want to do this, LORD!

EXCUSE #5—

“But he said, [Moses said to God] “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.” (Exodus 4: 13 NASB)

Moses resisted this step of faith, of obedience to God because Moses had a lack of trust & an unwillingness to do that which God called him to do.

“the anger of the LORD burned against Moses,” (Exodus 4: 14a NASB) however, even still,

GOD PROVIDED ENCOURAGEMENT TO HIS SERVANT MOSES—

God has a plan for carrying out His rescue mission in the world, and

WE ARE IT!       NO EXCUSES!

God could have rescued His people from Egypt without Moses’ help, but God chose to rescue His people THROUGH Moses.

God knew the misery and suffering of His people, so when Moses was right in the middle of doing his day-to-day job of shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep, God appeared to His servant Moses at the burning bush.