Moses’ Story: No More Excuses

Exodus 3:11—4:23 

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. Moses.  David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to Come.

MOSES: Israel enslaved. Moses rescued. Moses in Midian. Moses and the burning bush.

Kent had a problem. He felt called by God to ministry, but that conflicted with his desire to earn enough money to live without financial worries. Kent’s dad lost his job when Kent was growing up, and the family struggled to make ends meet. Kent didn’t want his family to endure that hardship. He wasn’t expecting to become wealthy, but he did want to be comfortable. He was concerned that being in full-time ministry couldn’t provide the security he desired. Kent was reluctant to do what God wanted him to do.[1]

Have you been there? Hesitant to step out in faith for the assignment God had for you? If so, you are in good company. Today, we will consider the many excuses from Moses, “whom the Lord knew face to face” (Dt. 34:10 NIV). 

When Moses was forty years old, he was ready to deliver Israel from Egypt. But his plan backfired, forcing him to flee for his life. Forty years later, God said, “It’s time, Moses,” but Moses had no interest in what God had planned. He was comfortably settled in the Midian desert, raising his family and tending sheep. 

When God appeared to him at the burning bush, he had a list of excuses. Let’s see if any of them sound familiar. 

Excuse #1: I am not worthy.

God said, “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:10). 

Moses said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11). 

Moses had been away from Egypt for a long time. Much of his time in Midian was spent alone, tending the flocks. As a young man, he had an edge about him; however, the last four decades had worn it smooth. 

God 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” (Ex. 3:12). 

Moses replies by questioning who God is, essentially saying, “Great. You will be with me, but who are you?”

Excuse #2: God is not enough.  

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 knew he couldn’t do the job, but he wasn’t sure God could either. Have you ever wondered the same? 

God did not hesitate in his response, saying, “I am who I am.” Furthermore, God directly addresses Moses’ hypothetical question. “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you’” (Ex. 3:14). “I AM” means “to be.” God is the self-existent one. He doesn’t need a resume of experience or letters of recommendation. There is no one with greater power, authority, or majesty. 

God said, “I AM.” We call him Yahweh, which means, “He is.”

God told Moses it was time for him to be on his way. But Moses had a few more excuses.  

Excuse #3: No one will listen to me.  

Moses was certain that if he spoke in God’s name, people would neither listen to him nor believe that God had appeared to him (Ex. 4:1). To confirm Moses as his spokesperson, God gave him signs, turning his staff into a snake and back again, and then made Moses’ hand leprous and restored it. 

God promises to use these signs to convince the Israelites that Moses is the one chosen by God to deliver them from their suffering (Ex. 4:8-9). 

Moses continues stalling…. 

Excuse #4: I don’t have what it takes. 

Moses said, “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” (Ex. 4:10). 

Moses studied at Egypt’s finest educational institutions. He was “instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22). But that education had occurred more than forty years earlier, and now a new pharaoh ruled Egypt, one Moses didn’t know. Moses essentially says, “God, I’m rusty and out of practice. I can’t go before Pharaoh. I’m sure I won’t be able to think and speak quickly enough to respond to all his rebuttals.”  

But God reminds Moses that he made his mouth and reassures him, “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak” (Ex. 4:12). 

Moses has one final excuse.  

Excuse #5: I don’t want to go.

The other excuses were smoke screens. Moses finally confronts the real issue. He doesn’t want to do what God is calling him to do. Moses responds, “‘Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.’ Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses…” (Ex. 4:13-14). 

God’s patience with Moses had run out. He would not accept “no” for an answer. God told Moses to go, assuring him that Aaron, Moses’ brother, would accompany him. God said, “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” (Ex. 4:15). 

I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I do know that he will answer all your excuses. And you can be sure that God will give you everything you need to do what he is calling you to do. 

Cut the excuses. Trust God. And move forward in step with him.  

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read and reflect on Exodus 3:11—4:23: Do I truly believe that “I AM” is sufficient for what he is asking me to do?

Talking to God: Ask God to confirm his sufficiency and give you confidence to move forward.

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SAVE THE DATE: Bible Immersion trip to Israel: November 4-14, 2026.

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