Exuses Excuses
Notes
Transcript
The Plan
The Plan
God lays out a plan at the end of the third chapter of Exodus for how it’s going to go when it comes to the Israelites leaving Egypt. Moses in the end of that same chapter starts doing what everyone does when faced with the unknown…he starts to freak out a bit and throw up roadblocks and excuses as soon as God says this.
therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
This one phrase sends Moses into But God mode and the excuses begin.
Moses first excuse is but God who am I. Why make a plan around me. When that doesn’t work he tries something else but what if they ask who you are…and God answers that the plan is in place.
God even tells Moses look i know what’s going to happen I know that Pharaoh is going to say no over and over but I have a plan. Stick to the plan and things will work and you will be who you were designed to be.
Many times we think God has this huge secret agenda, that we can’t understand, that we can’t know. The thing is, while Gods ways are never my ways, and God’s thoughts are never my thoughts, God is also not all that secretive about his designs for humanity. So God lays the whole plan out for Moses including the fact that things are not just going to be as simple as saying hey let us go...
But But But
But But But
Even after God lays things out clearly for Moses he still freaks out which brings us to one of Moses biggest issues. Moses lacked trust, even in the face of amazing things. God has answered Moses concerns and yet Moses doesn’t like those answers, he’s comfortable in Midian, he has a good thing going there and going back to the place he ran away from is not someting that he’s too keen on doing so he keeps making excuses to God in the hopes of getting out of it.
What if?
What if?
Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
Put yourself in Moses place for a moment. Moses is going to head to a group of people who have no reason to trust him, no reason to respect him, no reason to listen to him. It’s not just plausible but highly likely that they are going to either laugh in his face, turn and walk away, or say yeah sure right Moses…tell us another one. So God, being God and knowing this takes care of that by asking Moses a what question of His own.
The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A staff,” he replied.
God doesn’t create some special thing for Moses to use he uses something that Moses is already familiar with.
The staff in his hand. Moses as used to that staff, he used it in his work tending sheep and so God says take that thing that you are familiar with, that you know, that you have held and had with you every day when you go tend sheep and watch what I will do with it. (Expound)
“Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it. The Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. “This will take place,” he continued, “so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
Fully Equipped
Fully Equipped
God doesn’t stop with one sign. He understands that people don’t want to move, that they don't want to change, that they are content to stay in what they know even though its not what they want. So he says look I get it and so I’m going to have you use something else that you’ve had with you in fact this time it’s something you’ve had with you your whole life.
In addition the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow. “Put your hand back inside your cloak,” he said. So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it had again become like the rest of his skin.
God understands what could happen. When God gives us tasks he equips us for those tasks. God doesn't stop with one sign, he doesn’t stop with two signs. He knows people he made them remember he goes on and gives Moses one more sign to show that he is sent.
And if they don’t believe even these two signs or listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.”
This was a big issue for everyone in and around Egypt.
The Nile was a symbol of Egypts power and prosperity. The Egyptians worshiped the Nile River God Hapi, who came annually when the river flooded bringing with it fertile soil to allow the Egyptians to grow the crops they grew making the desert fertile. When God has Moses pour out the water and it turns to blood it’s a clear declaration of who’s in charge. Additionally the first Plague turning the Nile into blood. This is a flex from God that sets the tone. Realizing there is One God, and no other god will be before him, no other god can compete with him, or contain him. So God is giving Moses all the tools he needs to fulfill his purpose.
Tongue Tied
Tongue Tied
But But But. Moses continues with the excuses trying to get God to take away the calling and purpose that he has been given.
But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”
Moses does what many of us do when we don’t want to do something he keeps pushing God to take it away, to make it so it doesn't have to be done. Have you ever decided you don’t want to do something so you do as bad a job as possible in the hopes that no one will ask you to do it again. This is what’s going on here. Moses says look God I really don’t talk well, it’s not my fault it’s just what is, and God answers him again.
The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.”
God is telling Moses look I get it but I’m going to be with you, I’m going to help you, I’m going to tell you what to say so lets just move on. It’s time for you to lean into what I have called you to do. GO…with that exclamation point. When God uses an explanation point that tells you something.
The truth comes out
The truth comes out
Moses finally just comes clean. He’s tried excuse after excuse, he’s tried telling God he’s got the wrong guy, he’s tried to be let off the hook and God’s having none of it. So he just says what he means.
Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”
Moses does not want to do this. He is content right where he is and when it’s clear that God’s not going to just give into moses desires, he says here it is God. I don't’ want to do this, I don’t want to go back to Egypt, I don’t want to be involved, send someone else.
So much of what we do and don’t do as Christ followers comes down to desire on our part. Yet God, in his love and his compassion and grace doesn’t just let us off the hook that easily. (expound)
Enough’s enough
Enough’s enough
Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do.
God puts his foot down. He tells Moses that’s it. You are not going to just get out of what I’ve called you to. I will give you some help. (expound)
This Week’s Challenge
This Week’s Challenge
Make a list of the excuses you’ve been giving God and the ones you find yourself giving him throughout the week. Bring the list next week.
