Read Exodus 3:1-4:17

No Excuses

God had a job for Moses, but did you notice how many excuses he used to try to get out of his responsibility? God called his attention to the suffering of the Hebrew slaves and said that He had selected Moses to be the one to bring them out of Egypt. Rather than feeling honored, though, Moses claimed he wasn’t worthy to go before Pharaoh.

God reassures His servant that He would be with him, but Moses was not satisfied with that. He complained that he didn’t know enough about God to answer the questions of the Israelites. God answered that excuse, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).

Moses then grumbled that the Israelites would not believe him. Again, God rejected that excuse and promised to perform signs through Moses to encourage belief. Moses was still looking for a way out, though, and said, “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). Surely God would not send a man who had trouble speaking on such an important mission, right? Think again! “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exodus 4:11-12).

For every excuse Moses offered, God had a response. Finally, Moses pleaded for God to just send somebody else. Basically, he told God, “I don’t want to do it!” The Lord’s patience had reached its limit and “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” (Exodus 4:14).

How do you respond when you discover a command of God that you have not yet obeyed? Do you offer up excuses like Moses, or do you obey without delay? The Scriptures say, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

God wants to save you, but His patience has limits. Do not provoke the wrath of God when it comes to your soul. Obey what He commands!