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TO CHEW ON: "But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?'" Exodus 3:11
In the Bible we meet many people who are not that different from us.
Today we read a discussion between God and Moses where God gives Moses the job to lead Israel out of Egypt but Moses counters God with excuses at every turn:
Moses: I'm nobody.
God: I will be with you - Exodus 3:11,12.
Moses: The people won't believe that You really sent me.
God: I'll give you supernatural signs - Exodus 4:1-9.
Moses: I'm not a good speaker.
God: I'll be with your tongue - Exodus 4:10-12.
Moses wasn't the only Bible character to make excuses.
When God called Gideon to lead the people in opposing raiding Midianites:
Gideon: My family is small and insignificant.
God: Because I sent you, I will be with you - Judges 6:13-16.
When God called Jeremiah to be His prophet:
Jeremiah: I'm too young.
God: Don't say that; you shall go and you shall speak - Jeremiah 1:6,7.
When God sent Ananias to meet with Saul / Paul:
Ananias: This job is too dangerous.
God: I know what I'm doing. My plan is way bigger than what you see - Acts 9:13-16.
The sobering thing is that God doesn't put up with excuses forever.
When Moses persisted in arguing with God, God appeared to lose patience and promised to send him a human helper, brother Aaron, who turned out to be a mixed blessing (Exodus 4:14).
As for people in Jesus' parables who had only excuses for the Master, most of them came to a bad end.
When the master returned and asked for an accounting of what his servants had done with what He had given them:
One-talent servant: I didn't do anything because I was afraid of you.
Master: You're lazy. You could have at least done something. Away with him! - Matthew 25:26-30
In the parable of those standing before the Son of Man as judge:
Those on the judge's left: You didn't come to us hungry, naked, sick or in prison.
Son of Man: I was there, as the hungry, naked, sick and imprisoned person you ignored. Away with you! - Matthew 25:41-46.
In the story of the Great Supper invitation, the master of the feast received these RSVPs:
Guest 1: I can't come; I'm too busy with my property.
Guest 2: I can't come; I'm too busy with my work.
Guest 3: I can't come; I'm too busy with my family.
Master of the feast: Their invitations are cancelled. Invite someone else - Luke 14:16-24.
You and I do well to ask ourselves, what is God asking us to do, and how are we responding? Let's take stock of our lives in this department and stop making excuses and get busy at what He's asking us to do, while we still have the opportunity.
PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to trust You for help instead of making excuses.
PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 17
The Bible Project VIDEO: Exodus 1-18 (Read Scripture Series)
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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