When God called Moses to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Moses didn’t initially obey. He made excuses. We know that excuses are not good. Perhaps this reminder to stop making excuses will motivate you to do what you need to be doing.
Here are 5 excuses that Moses made (Exodus 3-4):
- Who am I?
(3:11) Moses doubted himself. Moses was focused more on himself than on the God who called Him. If God is leading you to do something, stop looking at your abilities. Start looking at the God who called you to do it. - Who are you?
(3:13) Moses knew that if he went and did it that the Egyptians would ask ‘who sent you?’ And so he asked God what his name was. Moses should have known that it was God. And Moses should have been able to tell them that it was God. If you don’t know God, then you certainly will struggle to know yourself. We will undoubtedly be asking ‘Who am I?’ if we are also asking ‘Who are you, God?’ Also, if you don’t know God, then you can’t possibly know what God wants for your life! - It won’t work!
(4:1) Moses starts telling God that His plan won’t work. This is an unfortunate turn in the story. Moses thinks he knows better than God. It reminds me of so many Christians today who “think they know” what works! God is the one who works. And how God chooses to work is totally up to him. I suggest we never tell God what will or won’t work. God knows best. If God is leading you to do something, then do it. Don’t say that it won’t work. - I’m not good at it!
(4:10) Moses is now running out of excuses, and so he starts to look at his weaknesses. He points out to God that he isn’t good at speaking. Let me remind you God knows that. God knows everything. In the very next verse, 4:11, God reminds Moses that it was God who made Moses’ mouth that way. If you are caught up in your inabilities, stop using them as an excuse. God can and does use weak people. There is a popular saying that goes “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” He doesn’t need us to be good at something. When we are willing, He will use us whether we are good at it or not. Stop making the excuse that you aren’t good at it! - I don’t want to!
(4:13) Moses is now officially out of excuses, and so he just finally states the reality = he doesn’t want to do it. This gets to the heart of the issue. Often times, excuses are just a way that we avoid admitting our lack of desire. Not desiring to do what God wants us to do is a bad spot to be in. We need to be warned of that. We need hearts that desire what God desires! Beyond that, Often times in life we have to do what we don’t want to do. May we stop making that excuse. May we want to do it!
As the Exodus story unfolds, Moses ends up doing what God had called him to do. And his excuses were nothing but excuses. God had called him to do it. God empowered him to do it. God used him through it. To God be the glory.
May we stop making excuses. And may God get the glory through our lives as well.