Mount Isa Baptist Church

Have you ever been asked to do a task that you did not want to do?

Maybe you didn't think you were qualified for the job or maybe you just didn't like the job. Whatever the reason, you find yourself making excuses to explain your reluctance to perform the task. Moses was in this position when God asked him at the burning bush to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Moses first excuse: Is found in Exodus 3:11 and God's response to Moses and to us today: Exodus 3:12

Moses had excused himself on the ground of qualifications.

God was saying to Moses and to us, “Where you say you have these shortcomings I will supply.”

Don’t we use this same excuse? We try excuse ourselves by believing that we are not qualified for the task. We feel that we aren’t as qualified as someone else, or that we just don’t have the ability to get the job done properly and by ourselves in our own strength we are insufficient BUT GOD can make us sufficient. We sometimes give up before we even start.

Moses second excuse: Is found in Exodus 3:13. God had given him the promise of his presence - which was all he needed - but Moses was still worried what people would think of him. Moses was still focusing on his own inadequacy rather than on God's sufficiency. God's response to Moses and to us: “Therefore, you will say”: Exodus 3:14-15. His response to Moses is to remind him that He is the “I AM!”

While Moses may be inadequate, God who calls him and equips him certainly is not! This is how the Lord works in our lives. He leads us out to follow Him by faith and proves Himself adequate and faithful to every challenge. Never allow a lack of an education, a lack of money, a lack of skill or any other thing stop you from being everything God wants you to be. Even if you can’t see within yourself the resources needed, just be faithful to obey Him who has called you and placed you in His work.

Moses third excuse: Is found in Exodus 4:1. How many Christians feel the same way as Moses, when it comes to serving the Lord? We have the impression that people will think we are crazy, we’ve lost it, when we begin to speak about our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. We have had this wonderful, life-changing event and we are sure that they will never believe us, when we tell them about it, so we end up saying nothing. When we hesitate to do what God has called us to as believers it might be that we think just like Moses, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me.” With the Lord Jesus help we cannot justify our inactivity in sharing the gospel message with others but Moses just like us comes up with another excuse.

Moses fourth excuse: Is found in Exodus 4:10. In a last-ditch effort to escape and as an excuse for not doing the will of God, Moses appeals to a speech impediment. He says to God “I’m not an eloquent speaker as if God didn’t already know of Moses weaknesses.” God's response to Moses and to us in Exodus 4:11. We also just like Moses look at our lack of education, a physical handicap, our age, our income, you name it, to stay out of the Lord’s work. In truth, these are not legitimate excuses for not serving the Lord because there are none! Whatever your hold up may be, God was aware of it before He chose you for His work. Therefore, our duty is to be obedient and allow Him His free reign in our lives. You and I have no need to fear being used of the Lord.

Moses fifth excuse: Is found in Exodus 4:13 and God's response to Moses and to us in vs.14 God’s anger burned against Moses. Before we are too hard on Moses, let us look at our own lives. Don’t we often make the same excuses that Moses did?

We would really have God use someone else!

We really don’t want to do what God has called us to do! If you have missed everything else, then get this: God wants to use YOU.

He has saved you by His grace and He has made something out of your life.

The best thing you and I can do is throw our excuses out the window and realize that God is able where we are not. Our heart’s desire should be and must be to serve Him at all costs, regardless of what He asks from our lives. After all, He gave His all, and He asks no less from us. Are you willing to say, "God, here I am send me"