WHAT ARE YOUR EXCUSES?

Is God speaking?

He certainly is!

Is He speaking to you?

Yep!

Is He asking of you more than you have the natural ability to do?

Without a doubt!

Case in point: MOSES.

Moses was asked by God to go the GREATEST NATION at the time, to the MOST POWERFUL LEADER in the known world, and say to him simply, “Let my people go.” Then Moses was supposed to LEAD 3 MILLION PEOPLE out of Egypt to the mountain where he had met God. Tough job description for an 80-year-old man! Moses thought so too! That’s why he had his LIST OF EXCUSES for not doing it.

Let’s look at some of his excuses. They might sound familiar! Mind you, I am paraphrasing, but check out the Scriptures for a more exact wording.

“Who am I, God, that you would use me like that?” (Exodus 3:11)

ANSWER: You’re a vessel! You are one who is prone to wandering with a tendency toward disobedience. You are sinner saved by grace. AND you are the one whom the Lord has chosen, despite all your frailties, to bring forth his purposes.

“Forget about who I am, God! But who are You!? What if they ask me about You? Who are You? I don’t even know your Name!” (3:13)

I understand Moses’ question! You must know the One who is sending you. Adonai says something so amazing to Moses! A life-changer indeed! He says, “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew me as El Shaddai! They did not know me as the way I am about to reveal myself to you! ‘I AM!’ I AM and WILL BE everything you need me to be. Watch me be a Deliverer! Watch me be a Nurturer! Watch me be a Redeemer! Watch me be a Father! Watch me be a WayMaker! Watch me be GOD! I AM THAT I AM!

“What if they think I’m crazy!? They will surely tell me, ‘The Lord did not appear to you!’ “ (4:1)

When the Lord gives you a vision, He will definitely appear to you — whether through a dream, a dream, a sensation. And you may appear crazy to most! You cannot allow the enemy to make you think that God didn’t really speak to you. So yes, the enemy may tell you God didn’t speak to you! He may even use family — spiritual and natural — to make you doubt that you have heard from Him, but you must know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He has spoken.

“Lord, I can’t even talk that well! But you want me to talk!! And to the President???” (4:10)

Yes, he wants you to open your mouth wide so that He can fill it! He wants the President to know that God uses the base things of this world to confound the wise. He wants you to go so that the President will see that this is not really you but someone much bigger than you and way bigger than the President.

“Lord, just send someone else!” (4:13)

Been there! Done that! This is the kind of pride that we need to renounce! If you have ever said this, you are telling God that you know better than He does. You are telling him that he’s not even God! Father, deliver us from such pride, even when we don’t understand.

“Tell me why you think that the President will listen to me?” (4:13)  “I tried it out on my congregation and they didn’t even listen.”

He will listen because when the Spirit of God bears up the man of God to deliver the word of God, people will listen with attentive ears! Even if they don’t hear, they will listen! Why do you think Pharoah did not try to have Moses killed!? The man heard and listened but his pride was too great!

PRAYER: Father, we have used so many excuses to get out of what you have called us to do! Thank you for Moses that in his humanity he did the same thing — come us with excuses. But what really matters is that Moses got past his excuses and accomplished what You told him to do. Thank you for being patient with us, Lord! Forgive our vanity and pride and lack of perception. Help us to know You and see You! When we do, we know that if you send us, we can walk into the room of the most powerful man in the world and declare your Word and you will back it up! Amen.