In each and every situation, God calls us for his purpose. God’s purpose for us is for our welfare or good, Jeremiah 29:11. God can use anything to accomplish his purpose including stones, Luke 3:8 or the wind and sea, Matthew 8:27; Mark 4:41. It is an awesome privilege to be called by God.
God has given us the freedom of choice but with a consequence for recklessness. He says the soul that sins shall die, Ezekiel 18:4, 20. When Moses continued to give excuses at God’s calling, the Lord was angry against Moses, Exodus 4:14. Our excuses are based on our hidden character which we want to hide. Moses had committed murder and was a fugitive. He was afraid of his crimes.
God calls us by grace and gives us the strength to carry on, 2 Corinthians 12:9. He knows us from our mothers’ wombs, Jeremiah 1:5. Our excuses are lies before God which makes him angry. Ananias and his wife Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and died, Acts 5:1-5. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. What is your excuse to God? Moses’ excuses to God are as follows:-
Who am I to stand before Pharaoh?
This is recorded in Exodus 3:11. Moses was brought up in Pharaoh’s house as Pharaoh’s adopted grandson and a royal without discrimination. In the royal palace he at all times interacted with Pharaoh and carried out official assignments. He could stand before Pharaoh and ask for favours. Moses however concocted this excuse to feel inadequate because of his past crime of murder. He was afraid that on return he would be arrested, prosecuted and perhaps killed for the crime. His excuse was not genuine. How often do we tell lies to get away from God’s work? It is a sin and we must seek pardon from Jesus.
What is your name?
Moses asked this question in Exodus 3:13. It was not possible for a Jewish boy not to know God’s name. Moses had both Jewish and Egyptian upbringing. In Pharaoh’s royal palace, he knew the God of his people, the Israelites. The Jews always prayed to God for their redemption or liberation from slavery. Moses clearly understood and appreciated the Jewish culture. The Israelites had only one official God to Moses’ knowledge. Moses’ excuse was weak and that annoyed God. Are we forthright with God?
They will not believe me
Moses gave this excuse in Exodus 4:1. Moses thought he was more knowledgeable than God. He did not know the character of the Israelites more than God. Moses knew the Israelites were stubborn so he took advantage of it to lie by his excuse. He had not communicated God’s message to the people so he could not have come to that knowledge. God demanded simple obedience from Moses as he demands from us today. Moses was just told to carry out God’s instructions and leave the rest to God but he failed. If he doubted God, he was going to his unbelief. God heals our unbelief, Mark 9:24. Without belief, Jesus cannot do mighty works in our lives, Matthew 13:58. We must not play God. He knows the way he goes. We must not speak without knowledge. It is false testimony and a sin.
I am not eloquent
We read this excuse from Exodus 4:10. One wonders when Moses became not eloquent upon all his royal exposure and upbringing as a future leader. He was better placed and accepted as a bilingual with dual nationality, Jewish and Egyptian. Royals sometimes spoke through their linguists whether or not eloquent. However, Moses never complained about not being eloquent until his call.. It is the Lord that gives us utterance as a gift, 1 Corinthians 12:8; Acts 2:4. Paul prayed for the gift of utterance in Ephesians 6:19. Do we doubt God’s capacity to perfect our eloquence for his work? God perfects our weaknesses, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Moses’ past crimes were rather his challenges. We must bring our past and hidden sins to Jesus on the cross rather than use it as an excuse. He is softly and tenderly waiting?
I am of uncircumcised lips
Moses made this excuse in Exodus 6:30. Uncircumcised lips meant he was not measured in speech. His utterances were raw, unpolished, insulting, provocative, repulsive, abrasive, or nauseating. In effect he could not effectively communicate God’s message to the Israelites without offending them in speech. He meant that if God used him, his words would rather provoke Pharaoh and work against God’s plan and purpose. As a trained royal he could not have uncircumcised lips. Even if he had, God was able to heal him for his purpose. Nothing is too hard for God, Jeremiah 32:17, 27. Do we have challenges with our utterances or language? We must come to Jesus with our burdens and receive rest, Matthew 11:28.
God’s purpose for our lives
In spite of Moses’ alleged shortcomings, God made him what he wanted him to be, one of the greatest prophets of all time. God made him God to Pharaoh, and Aaron as his prophet, Exodus 7:1. Moses’ fears were not founded in the Lord. Pharaoh submitted to Moses like his God. Sometimes we allow fear to destroy God’s purpose for our lives. Let us trust and obey God, Isaiah 50:10. Moses out of his frustration accused God for doing evil to his people, Exodus 5:22. This did not derail God’s plan but God remained focused as God. Our complaints will not change God’s plan. Let us be careful not to blaspheme for it has consequences, Matthew 12:31. Rather in all things let us give thanks to God, 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Prayer
Heal me of unworthy excuses and accusations, oh Lord that I may not sin against thee. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!!
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