Context of Moses:
- The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt
- Pharaoh felt threatened and ordered all Hebrew boys to be killed
- Moses was placed in a basket and sent down the Nile, where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter
- Moses was then raised in a palace, surrounded by wealth
- As an adult, Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave
- When Pharaoh found out, Moses fled to Midian
- He got married, became a Shepherd, then at the age of 80, he encountered God

5 Excuses, 5 Reassurances

1. Insecurity

Excuse:
“But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)

God’s Reassurance:
“I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

“If you’re afraid of God calling you, remember this: He never sends someone out without going with them.” – Tim Keller

2. Uncertainty

Excuse: “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13)

God’s Reassurance:
“I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: The I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh (the Lord) the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you…This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.” (Exodus 3:14-15)

3. Fear

Excuse:
“Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” (Exodus 4:1)

God’s Reassurance:
“Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:5)

4. Self-doubt

Excuse:
“But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” (Exodus 4:10)

"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done." - C.S. Lewis

God’s Reassurance:
“Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” (Exodus 4:11-12)

5. Resistance

Excuse:
“Lord, please! Send anyone else!” (Exodus 4:13)

God’s Reassurance:
“Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.” (Exodus 4:16-17)

It was never about Moses’ ability but God’s sufficiency

1. God’s Presence is greater than insecurity

David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
Jeremiah’s Calling (Jeremiah 1:5)
Abraham (Genesis 12:4-5)

2. God equips the willing, not just the ready

- A willing spirit sustains/upholds us (Psalm 51:12)
- If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land (Isaiah 1:19)
- For if the willingness is there, the gift is also acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12)
- If you are willing…I am willing (Matthew 8:2-3)

3. God uses weakness to display His strength

"I will be strong when you are weak”

Am I willing?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Are there areas in my life where I’ve been resisting His call out of fear, insecurity, or past failure?

2. How would my response to God’s calling change if I lived as though His presence went with me into every situation?

3. Am I waiting to feel ready instead of simply being willing? What step of obedience could I take this week, even if I don’t feel fully prepared?

4. Where have I seen God use my weakness in the past to reveal His strength? What “cracks” in my life might God be using right now to grow something beautiful?

5. What would it look like for me to respond with, “Here I am,” today? What is one area where I can move from reluctance to trust and surrender?