Here I am! Send Someone Else! (Exodus 3:11-4:17)

Have you ever felt like you dont have what it takes?

I dont think this is going to be news to any of us this morning…but sometimes we just simply dont have what it takes...

We, as human beings have limitations. There are just some things that we cannot do. For example, I cannot be both “here”, and “there” at the same time. I can’t, no matter how hard I might try, be in two places at one time. I am limited to what is right here and right now…

Here is another example, unless you are one of the Owen’s or Wallace kids…I cannot eat whatever I want, whenever I want and be in good shape. You have to choose. You choose to be here for a long time, and eat healthy and exercise...or you choose to be here for a good time, and you eat whatever you want. But you cant have both... (And even the Owens and Wallace kids will figure that out soon enough…)

Human beings are limited creatures.

We are limited in our abilities.

We are limited by our experiences.

We are limited by the place and time in which we are born.

We are limited by our perceptions.

We are limited…period.

And as a result, there are times where we come face to face with this reality…where we look up…and we just dont quite feel like we have what it takes.

Well this morning…as we pick up where we left off in the story of the Exodus, we get a glimpse into the moment where Moses came face to face with the reality of his limitations.

If you remember back to last week, as we unpacked the first half of Exodus 3, we saw Moses’ encounter with God in the midst of the Burning Bush on Mount Horeb as he was tending to his flock on the backside of the wilderness. And as he approaches this bush that is aflame, Moses hears the voice of God call out to him in the midst of the bush…

Then as we saw in verses 9&10 God calls Moses to a mission. We read about it in verse 10:

Exodus 3:10 (ESV)

God says to Moses... 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

And this is the moment…this is where I want us to pick up the story this morning…because as we see how Moses responds…we see Moses come face to face with his own feelings of insufficiency…we see Moses come to grips with that feeling of “I just dont think I have what it takes...”

And we know that Moses feels this way because in this passage…he offers God five different reasons why he isnt the one for the job…He essentially says to God… God, you got the wrong guy…maybe you should consider someone else…I dont think I have what it takes...

And we respond this way too, dont we?

Think about it…if you are a Christian…you have been called on mission. Charles Spurgeon said it eloquently, “Every Christian here is either a missionary or an imposter...”

But the reality is…that for many of us…we hear that.. and we respond like Moses…we think to ourselves…you know…I just dont think I have what it takes…God maybe you should consider sending someone else...

Well this morning…if that is you… as we upack Moses’ interaction with God, I hope to encourage you…I hope to show you that…in the face of our

We serve a God who displays His Strength through the Weaknesses of his people...

1) God uses those who lack Influence. (vv. 11-12)

Exodus 3:11–12 (ESV)

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

Moses' points out his first insufficiency by asking the question, “Who am I”?

He essentially says to God, “Um, God…maybe you are confused…I dont think you realize exactly who I am…

Moses at this time is 80 years old…he had left Egypt after he got caught red handed as a murder and had been a fugitive on the run hiding in the land of Egypt for 40 years.

He had no reputation to speak of with the Hebrews in Egypt…and he was less than the ideal candidate to be the guy that made any demands of the Pharoah…considering that 1) He was a criminal in the land of Egypt…and 2) He was a shepherd...

And Egyptians despised shepherds… Genesis 46:34—actually tells us that the Egyptians thought shepherds were an abomination.

And so Moses tells God, Lord…I dont think I got what it takes…Im not the guy for this job…I dont have the influence…I dont have the reputation…I dont have the clout, God...

And look at how God responds...

12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

God promises to show His strength through Moses’ weakness. In spite of Moses’ lack of Influence, God promises that he will be with him…and he will lead him out of Egypt and draw him back to this mountain where the people will worship.

Church…God can use those who lack influence...

Just as God promised that he would abide with Moses…he has promised that he will always abide with us…No-one else might be in our corner…we may not have the influence we feel like we need at times…but what we do have is God…and as it turns out…God is all we need.

God uses those who lack influence…

2) God uses those who lack Intellect. (vv. 13-22)

Exodus 3:13–22 (ESV)

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”

Moses’ second excuse is this: “God, I dont even know what Im supposed to say...”

“I dont even know your name, God...” When I show up at the Hebrew Elder’s meeting what am I supposed to say? “Hey guys, I heard a voice in a bush and it told me that we should go tell Pharoah to let us out of here...”

God tells Moses to tell the people two things:

1) He is to tell them God’s Name:

14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

God responds by saying…Moses, when they ask you who sent you, just tell them that I AM has sent me to you...

God reveals His name…YAHWEH

God’s name reveals that he is:

God’s name reveals that He is Self sufficient

God’s name reveals that He is Eternal

God’s name reveals that He is Central

Moses was on a Mission to make God known…His job was to live for the glory and renown of Yahweh...

2) Moses is to tell them God’s Promise

19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Three times, God tells Moses…what to say:

v. 15-- God also said to Moses, “...SAY THIS...to the people: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

v. 16— Go and gather the elders of Israel together and SAY TO THEM, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’

v. 18— And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and SAY TO HIM, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’

God tells Moses exactly what He is to say...He doesn't have to rely on his own intellect…he can trust in the word that God has given him to proclaim.

As missionaries we are called to remember that we are not to trust in our intellectual abilities…we are not called to rely on our own knowledge…we are simply called to tell people who our God is…and what he has said to be true in his word...

3) God uses those who lack Authority. (4:1-9)

Exodus 4:1–9 (ESV)

1 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ”

Moses lacked authority...

He essentially says, “God even if I go…they aren't going to listen to me…I dont have any authority over the Pharoah…”

“They arent even going to believe that you appeared to me...”

2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

I love what Tony Merida says concerning this passage:

Exalting Jesus in Exodus (Lack of Converts (4:1–9))

Even though God just told Moses that the elders will believe him, Moses lacked trust and confidence. Moses asked, “What if they won’t believe me?” (v. 1). Moses was struggling to understand that God makes converts. His responsibility was to trust God and deliver the message.In 4:2–9, God responded in His grace by providing Moses with three signs of God’s power: over creation, over people, and over elements in nature. Moses would take his staff and throw it to the ground. When he did so, it would become a serpent, and when he picked it up, it would return to being a staff. Why did God accommodate Moses in this way? “[S]o they will believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you” (v. 5).

God

4) God uses those who lack Ability (4:10-12)

Exodus 4:10–12 (ESV)

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

Moses’ 4th excuse for why he isnt cut out for this job is his lack of ability to communicate.

History tells us that the Egyptians thought highly of oratory skills…and Moses for whatever reason doesnt think that he has the ability to speak well enough to make any impact.

Moses literally says that he is slow to speak and of tongue...

11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

God tells Moses that He is the one who made the human mouth.

Words are His idea, the tongue is his creation, and God therefore has the power to control the tongue. God would teach Moses what he was to say.

—> How many of us use this excuse?

“God I dont know what Im supposed to say...”

We need to hear these words that God speaks to us… “Christian…God is the creator of the mouth…he gives people eyes to see, and ears to hear, he gives us the ability to communicate…and God will speak through us…”

We are called to give what little ability we have to the Lord…and trust that he will overcome the areas where we are found lacking...

This is especially true when it comes to our own ability to communicate...

The Apostle Paul said it this way...

1 Cor. 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.

Moses’ problem in this passage was that he was focused on the wrong person…Moses was focused on himself…Notice how many times He says the word “I” in these verses...

Each time God responds by saying…it isnt about you Moses…its about ME..I AM strong where you are weak...

You see…We serve a God who displays His strength through our weakness...

5) God uses those who lack Aspiration (4:13-17)

Now we get to the heart of Moses’ issue...

Exodus 4:13–17 (ESV)

13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Moses was an 80 year old man...

He was getting near the age of retirement…and the reality is that Moses just simply didnt want to do what God was calling Him to do…Moses’ plans were to finish out his time as a Shepherd and ride off into the sunset...

But God had different plans…and God overcame Moses lack of Aspiration and stubbornness.

14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

God responds with both justified anger…and with grace...

You see…in every area where Moses was weak…God displayed his strength...

And church…in every area of weakness in our lives…we must remember this…We serve a God who displays His Strength through our weaknesses.

And there is no illustration for this reality that is greater than the Lords Supper.

The Lord’s Supper reminds us that God displays His strength in our weakness.

You see…we have a weakness that is impossible to overcome in and of ourselves...

And this area of weakness is our sin...

The Apostle Paul shows us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…and no amount of human effort is able to over the reality of this weakness. We are totaly incapable of cleaning ourselves up and making ourselves right before a holy God…but the the good news is, that God in Christ Jesus has done what we are too weak to do ourselves...

And this is what the Lord’s Supper represents…it is a meal where believers remember that God displays hsi strength through weakenss