Do you ever make excuses for not moving forward in obedience to the Lord? If so, you are in good (or bad) company. In Exodus 3 and 4, we see Moses stuck in that excuse cycle. In 3:7-10, God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and explained how He saw the oppression of His people and had come down to deliver them and bring them to a good and large land. He asked Moses to come, and He would send him to Pharaoh to bring His people out.
In 3:11, Moses introduces his first excuse (each excuse will be paraphrased and summarized here, but I encourage you to read them for yourself): “I’m not the one for the job”. God then gave him step by step details: He will be with him and will give him a sign. He specified the words to speak to His people, how they will respond, then how Pharaoh will respond and finally how they will plunder the Egyptians as they leave.
In 4:1 Moses counters with excuse #2: “They probably won’t believe me or listen”. God answers with a question: “What is that in your hand?” and then gives him three miraculous signs to validate what Moses was to say. This doesn’t faze Moses.
In 4:10, with excuse #3, Moses exclaims “I am not eloquent.” God asks three questions: “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD?” He then promised to be with his mouth.
At that point, Moses apparently ran out of excuses and just pleaded for someone else to do the job. God was angry but at the same time did not give up on Moses. As the gracious God that He is, He brought his brother Aaron on the team, since he could speak well. He proclaimed that He would be with his mouth and with Aaron’s as well, and would teach them what to do. This was not God’s best plan and we see Aaron causing a significant problem later (Ex. 32). It seems the big lesson here is God’s gracious work in our lives despite our excuses. Let’s praise Him, accept the task He has given us, and watch Him show His strength in our weakness!
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Cor. 12:9)