Wilderness University - Week 3

God Just Needs You to be Willing - Exodus 4:1-17

I. The Objection of Moses

Here in Chapter 4, we see the doubt, unbelief, and even unwillingness of Moses creep into his heart, even after all God had already revealed to him

A. Doubt (1)

What Moses says in v.1 is a sign of unbelief on his part. Essentially he is saying “Lord, they will not believe me”. Keep in mind he says this even after God had already promised in 3:18 “they shall hearken to thy voice”. Moses saying this was almost like him saying “but God, what if you’re wrong and they don’t believe me?”

It was a good thing that Moses had no confidence in the flesh, but it was a bad thing that he lacked confidence in the promises of God

All of this probably stemmed from his failure 40 years earlier, but what he needed to realize was: 40 years ago i did this my way, but this time im doing it God’s way.

B. Unbelief (10)

Then in verse 10, Moses makes another excuse “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou has spoken unto thy servant: but i am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” = AKA “Im not a good speaker Lord. They wont follow someone who cant speak well”

Again, more signs of unbelief and not having a totally surrendered heart.

But Moses’ excuse here is not justified. 40 years earlier his speech was just fine (Acts 7:22 “22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.”)

Those years of eloquence ended in Egypt and now for 40 years he probably has only been talking to sheep and his family. His self confidence was gone; but he needed God confidence instead

God is being very patient with Moses during this time, He is not getting angry, He is still just gently answering every doubt and excuse Moses is coming up with.

C. Unwillingness (13)

Moses at this point has given excuse after excuse as to why, in his mind, he cannot be the one God uses for this task, and God has been patient and has answered every doubt. But now we get to the real reason Moses is trying to change God’s mind on the whole thing… He simply doesnt want to!

This was the heart of the issue. All of the excuses he made all pointed to this one truth, he didnt want to go!

He says “Lord, please send someone else.”

“by the hand of him whom thou wilt send” can be translated to “send the person that you SHOULD send. It certainly isnt me”

God never got angry with Moses when he had questions or doubts. But He was angered only when Moses was just plain unwilling to go!

At this point God had answered every doubt and question of Moses’ heart. Moses had no other excuses to turn to, so he just gets right down to it “Lord, I dont want to go, send someone else!”

Moses’s time in the wilderness did a number on him. It shook his faith, it destroyed his confidence, and it even caused him to be apathetic, but God still had a plan for him.

II. The Object Lesson of God (2-9, 11-12)

Going back to Verse 2, God answers Moses’ doubt about whether the people will actually believe him and follow him.

Exodus 4:2–5 KJV 1900

2 And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

God was about to teach Moses a valuable lesson

See God was about to use what was in Moses’ hand, which was just a shepherd’s hook that Moses had been using to herd sheep. Those years Moses spent herding sheep were NOT useless, although he may have thought they were! These last 40 years had put into Moses’ hands the very thing he could use for God’s glory.

God didnt use the scepter that was in his hand when he was Prince of Egypt, but God was going to use this simple shepherd’s hook.

Shamgar only had an Ox Goad and he slew 600 Philistines (Judges 3:31)

David only had a stone and a slingshot and he killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49)

Samson only had a Donkey’s Jawbone and slew 1,000 men (Judges 15:15)

The little boy only had 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish and fed 20,000 people(John 6:9)

Then When Moses says that he cant speak well, God answers him again by saying “Did not I make you? I am well aware of your weaknesses are. You need to just GO and OBEY. I will be with your mouth and Ill give you the words to say”

God is teaching us that there are no excuses not to serve God. He created you, therefore, He knows what you can and cant do. If He’s calling you to do something, trust God and do it! You may not be able to, but God is!

Moses’ perceived inadequacies did not matter, God is so mighty that He can call the mute, deaf, and blind to do His work!

The Lesson God was teaching Moses here was this: The only requirement I have for Me to use you is a WILLING AND OBEDIENT HEART!

If Moses was willing and obedient, God would use that rod to do great miracles

If Moses was willing and obedient, God would give him the words to say

If Moses was willing and obedient, God would use Moses to lead Israel out of bondage, defeat Pharaoh, and bring God’s people to the promised land.

III. The Obedience of Moses (18-23)

Moses ends up obeying the Lord and going back to Egypt with his family and Aaron’s family.

When the fire faded from the burning bush and the voice of God became silent, it then fell upon Moses to obey and do what God had told him to do

There will come a time when God stops speaking to you as clearly as He was before, and it is in those times where it is up to us to obey what He told us. “Dont doubt in the dark what God showed you in the Light”

God knew Moses was safe in Egypt, and so He eased his mind from the anxiety of worrying about those who sought to kill him before.

Notice how in v. 20 it says that Moses took “the rod of God in his hand”. This was the same rod (shepherd’s hook) that Moses had before. Why was it being called something different now? Because now Moses was acting in Faith! He was obeying God in going to Egypt!

It was called the rod of God because God would use it to strike the 10 plagues upon Pharaoh, part the red sea, strike water out of a rock, etc

God then once again lays out how everything is going to go down when Moses gets to Egypt, giving Moses assurance once more.

And the rest is history! God used Moses to redeem and free the people from the bondage of Egypt!

Conclusion

Moses had doubts, unbelief, and even unwillingness in his heart that the wilderness had produced in him

Maybe the wilderness has produced the same things in you!

But God was teaching Moses 2 valuable lessons here in the wilderness:

1) God is bigger than your excuses

2) God can and will use you if you are WILLING and OBEDIENT

When Moses Obeyed God, everything happened exactly as God said it would. God allowed Moses to fulfill the dream he had in his heart 40 years ago, but Moses needed some time in the wilderness first to get there!