Exodus 3:1-10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Introduction: Moses was called by God to lead God’s children from Egypt unto the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. There is no doubt that as you look at the life of Moses that you can see that he was faithful to God, that he was a great leader, that he had great courage to face Pharaoh, and that he had a great faith toward God and even a fear of God. Those things are very evident however, at the same time, you cannot miss the excuses that Moses made to God when God called him.
There are many teenagers and adults alike that attend teen conference, missions conference, retreats, that have been called by God to do something specific and for whatever reason, they make excuses. I hope we can see the life of Moses and his excuses and be helped with our own specific calling and the excuses that we may be inclined to make.
Moses made excuses regarding his calling by:
I. Questioning God’s Choice- Exodus 3:11- “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Moses here essentially questioned himself and his calling of God. What can make you question God’s calling in your life? Your past and your future.
II. By Questioning The Response of People- Exodus 4:1- “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor harken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.”
A. Will Not Believe- Moses was already looking unto the future and assuming that the children of God would not believe that it was truly of God.
B. Will Not Harken- {Harken- to listen or give respectful attention.} To assume that people will not listen to God’s Holy Word is a mistake. 1. Who are we to place a limit on God’s power? 2. Who are we to assume that God cannot change people of their ways? Later on in Exodus 4:29-31, after Moses doubted, it tuns out that “the people believed”. Moses was wrong in assuming that they would not believe or harken and he was wrong in predicting that they would not believe or harken.
III. By questioning with Questions- Exodus 3:13- “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them. The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”
IV. Questioning God’s Equipping- Exodus 4:10-12- “I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” “have not I the LORD?”. “Now therefore go.”
1 Corinthians 1:26- For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called;” I find it interesting that God calls imperfect people who have a desire to serve Him and devote themselves to God. 1 Corinthians 1:27- But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; People who have it all together and are perfect in speech, education, family, etc, USUALLY have no need for God.
When God calls, He will have others teach you:
A. Faithful Men and Women- Discipleship.Titus 2- Aged men and the aged women teaching the younger. That’s how we learn, that’s how God teaches us.
B. Pastors and Teachers- Ephesians 4:11-12- “and he gave some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”.
If God has called you to do a specific thing or to a specific people, He will equip you with the right training.
Conclusion:
