Overcoming Excuses for Doing God’s Will

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. 10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. 17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. 22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

1. What will people think? 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

2. We make excuses about what people will think even when we know what God wants us to do

3. Moses was convinced that they would not believe him

4. God gave Moses signs he could use

5. His rod would turn into a snake and even be able to eat up the snakes that the magicians made 2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

6. Moses would pick up his snake-rod by the tail and still be protected

7. Moses would place his hand in his robe and it would become leprous and healthy again 6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

8. He would be able to pull water from the river and turn it into blood 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

9. God gave Moses everything he would need to complete his assignment-God’s will for his life

10. God has a plan for your life. He will give you what you need to complete His will for your life

11. Are you allowing what others think to hinder you from doing what God wants you to do?

12. Isn’t it time to quit making excuses? Time to decide to step out by faith and do whatever it is that God is dealing with you about!

13. I am not able to do it? 10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

14. This is another common excuse. We have dreams of big things for God. We want to do them but believe that we are not able

15. God’s first answer is to remind Moses that He made his mouth and was able to give him all the help he needed 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

16. God promised to be with Moses’ mouth and teach him what to say. No one could ask for greater reassurance 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

17. Moses responses in doubt and rebellion 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

18. So if Moses will keep rebelling against God’s will, then God will send Aaron to do the talking 14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

19. Moses would simply tell Aaron what to say if he really did have a speech impediment. 15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

20. Do you see how laughable this excuse was? Moses will speak the rest of the story. He was simply trying to get out of doing what God had for Him

21. God had an answer for every part of Moses argument about being unable to do the work

22. God will also take care, and give you the ability that you need to do His will for your life. You may need to move slowly, prove yourself, grow and learn, but you can be used of God

23. I haven’t been a spiritual leader in my home 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

24. Moses had left Egypt because he was a believer. Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

25. He wanted to serve God but on meeting his wife and starting a family, he let slide things that were very important to his faith

26. His wife obviously didn’t understand the truths about circumcision

27. Had Moses not told her anything?

28. Did Moses not teach his wife about his faith?

29. The child had not been circumcised on the eighth day

30. As Moses goes to lead Israel out of Egypt, he hasn't been leading his own family. He has simply been living. He has allowed things to develop however they developed

31. His wife saw circumcision as cruelty rather than the beautiful sign that it was to a Jewish man

32. How is your spiritual leadership at home?

33. Are you teaching your wife and helping her grow in her faith?

34. Does she understand the Word of God because of your leadership?

35. Do they know you as a real man of God, faith, character, integrity?

36. I have not been living out my faith 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

37. Could this be the biggest excuse you have for not serving God?

38. You didn’t worry about doing God’s will in the life of your children when they were small

39. You didn’t teach them or your wife what to do

40. You know a lot of truth but you aren’t living it out

41. You have rebelled against God and before He can use you, He must break you and make you realize that He expects obedience

42. How can you tell others to do and be what you aren’t and refuse to do?

43. Afraid to go alone. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

44. Amazingly God provides for Moses so that he can do the work. He sends friends--his brother

45. When you step out to do God’s will, you will find some very sweet fellowship with others that have the same heart and goals 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

46. Having others to go with is a blessing. We often need help especially when we are first getting started in the ministry God has for us 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:

47. Aaron does exactly what God said he would. He talks to the Jews. He shows them the power of God 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

48. God touched the hearts of people and great things happened. They were ready to believe and to follow 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

49. What are you waiting for? What is holding you back?

50. Why do you not step forward and let God use you?

51. He will raise up everything you need to do the work. He will provide the friends. He will provide the mentors

52. Step out and see God work instead of living half the life He called you to live!