Excuses
We learn at an early age the use of excuses. With excuses we try to convince others that something was not our fault, in an attempt to justify our behavior. Excuses also somehow seem to magically make us feel better for failing to do what we were supposed to do. The dictionary defines excuse as “a plea offered as an explanation of a fault or for release from an obligation or promise with the hope of being forgiven or understood.” Excuses are our defense mechanism.
Not only do we make excuses to others, we sometimes make excuses to God as well. We try to avoid doing certain things He asks of us, laying out a case for why we are not the right person for the job. Today I want to look at a day in the life of Moses in which he tried to make excuses to God; to which God answered each excuse with a promise.
This story takes place in Exodus 3:1-4:17.
This day for Moses began just as I imagine every day for the previous forty years had begun: tending to his flock of sheep. However, on this particular day God has different plans. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, revealing His intention to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt and into a land flowing with milk and honey. I’m quite sure that sort of encounter wasn’t on Moses’ agenda as he thought about his day while showering.
The first 40 years of Moses’ life can be summarized as years of privilege and success while the next 40 years were years of wandering and waiting (read Acts 7:20-33). It is likely that after 40 long years in the desert, Moses was devoid of any self-assertiveness that his (soon to be) divine calling would demand of him.
Reality is we too tend to throw up roadblocks to God’s calling in our lives, with a laundry list of excuses and procrastinations. Let’s look at the five excuses Moses threw at God and how God answered.
First, Moses said that he was not competent enough because he lacked identity (3:11) and God promised to be with Moses (3:12).
Next, Moses argued with God that he was not smart enough because he lacked information (3:13). God promised to give Moses insight (3:14-15).
When neither of those seemed to convince God, Moses turned to the excuse that he lacked respect or credibility with the people, which really was nothing more than him saying he lacked faith (4:1). God answered with a series of signs to strengthen Moses’ faith (4:2-8).
Moses kept going and next he pleaded with God that he was not gifted enough, that he lacked eloquence (4:10). To this excuse God promised to equip and empower Moses (4:11-12).
And finally, when all else failed, Moses used the excuse that really summed up his reluctance – he was unwilling (4:13). We now see God becoming angry (4:14).
The first four excuses seem to only be smokescreens to hide the fact that Moses really did not want to go, and this angered God. He had met every one of Moses’ objectives point by point, yet Moses still objected. Did God abandon his plan and find someone else? No, despite all the push back, God still showed divine patience, promising Moses the assistance of his brother Aaron (4:14-17). Moses did finally acquiesce, and you know the story – he led the Israelites out of bondage, where they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness.
Moses spent 40 years thinking he was somebody, 40 years learning that he was really a nobody, then 40 more discovering what God can do with a nobody. So, today I ask you, what is God calling you to do? And more importantly, what is keeping you from being obedient to that call?
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