5 Excuses God Will Not Accept From You - Part 2
This post is the continuation of Moses' back and forth with God about why he feels inadequate for the cause he's been called to.
Excuse #4: I am not talented enough.
Exodus 4:10 (ESV) 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.”
This is equivalent to the "I don't know enough about God" excuse but for a different reason. Some of us want to spout off to prove ourselves. Others want to show off to prove ourselves. God will need neither.
Isn't that good news? God does not require talented people and therefore, the excuse doesn't work. Here's why: God can make the untalented talented.
Notice God's response:
Exodus 4:11 (ESV) 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?
The reality is you have the talents you need right now to get started with God's purpose in your life. The development of the gifts He wants to give will come as you step out to do what He's given you to do. But right now, use what you've got.
Jesus tells the story of the talents in Matthew 25. Two men took what they were given and went to work and doubled what they had. That is where multiplication happens - in the using of the talents. It NEVER happens in the waiting for the talents. Notice Moses originally thought he needed to "wait" for God to do something in his speech before he could act. He actually gets impatient with God, "I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant" That's actually a funny line. He's been talking with God for about 15 minutes and feels like God should have supernaturally charged him with oratory skills. What's most ironic is that he is back taking the God of the universe while being afraid to confront Pharaoh.
God's Word is to be acted upon before we see God's power of provision. Are you doing what He's said? Do not wait for Him to do what you think He should do for you. Act now on what He's said and the multiplication of talents will come.
God's Word is to be acted upon before we see God's power of provision. Are you doing what He's said? Do not wait for Him to do what you think He should do for you. Act now on what He's said and the multiplication of talents will come.
Exodus 4:13 (ESV) But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”
When the rubber hit the road, Moses believed someone else should do what God had given him to do. It is here when God gets mad.
Exodus 4:14 (ESV) 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.
Here's why I think Moses kept refusing. His head was still replaying the last time he tried to deliver Israel and got the response: "Who made you ruler and judge over us?" (Exodus 2:14). If you read Stephen's Acts 7 speech about that moment Moses was sure God was using him to save his people. But he was totally rejected by them. Those words of rejection stuck in his mind even to this moment.
This helps us understand God's anger here. God gets angry when we let what other people say to us stop us from believing what God has said to us. Moses has made the voice of that negative Israelite overrule God's word of commendation that he is the man for the job.
This is perhaps our most common excuse. "Well, God you don't know what those people said about me!" Or, "God, I have to many doubters in my life to do what you've said."
When we take the words of others over the Word of God, his anger flares up for good reason. God's Word is always more powerful than all else. Believe it, trust it, do it, you will not be stopped!
This helps us understand God's anger here. God gets angry when we let what other people say to us stop us from believing what God has said to us. Moses has made the voice of that negative Israelite overrule God's word of commendation that he is the man for the job.
This is perhaps our most common excuse. "Well, God you don't know what those people said about me!" Or, "God, I have to many doubters in my life to do what you've said."
When we take the words of others over the Word of God, his anger flares up for good reason. God's Word is always more powerful than all else. Believe it, trust it, do it, you will not be stopped!
Notice what happens as a result of Moses' refusal here: he gets an assistant. God gives him Aaron as a priest for his mission. But if you read the rest of the story, Aaron will be a blessing and a curse for Moses. He will fashion the golden calf and he will question Moses' credentials and lead a coup later on. How very sad to get what we want from God when we are unwilling to accept what He's giving us!
God knows what He's doing. Are there people more talented than you? Of course. There always will be. That's not the issue. Are there people doubting you? Of course, they usually do that. But that is not the issue either.
The issue is - are you doing what God's assigned YOU to do? Are you believing and living according to His Word?
Because that's the Word that counts.
The issue is - are you doing what God's assigned YOU to do? Are you believing and living according to His Word?
Because that's the Word that counts.
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