Excuses, a lesson from Moses

we see his five excuses (all of which I can identify with): ‘You have got the wrong person’ Moses says, ‘Who am I?’ (3:11). He felt inadequate. We can all feel, ‘I am not good enough.’ ‘I am not holy enough.’ Moses said to God, you’ve got the wrong person. Why me? God’s reply is, ‘I will be with you’ (v.12a). That is all that matters. ‘I am not ready yet’ Moses says, ‘What shall I tell them?’ (v.13). He felt ill-informed. He did not think he would be able to answer all the questions. He thought he would have nothing to say. God said, ‘This is what you are to say’ (v.14). God will give you the message at the right time. ‘I might fail’ Moses says, ‘What happens if it all goes wrong?’ ‘It might not work out.’ ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The Lord did not appear to you"?' (4:1). In answer, God showed Moses his power (vv.2–9). ‘I do not have the skills’ ‘Moses says, ‘I do not have the right gifts’: ‘O Lord, I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue’ (v.10). It seems that Moses may have had a stutter or some other form of speech impediment. (‘I speak with faltering lips’, 6:12). God said, ‘I will help you speak and will teach you what to say’ (4:12). God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. ‘Someone else will do it’ Moses says, ‘Please send someone else to do it’ (v.13). It is easy to think, ‘someone else will do it better than me’. God was not best pleased with Moses but said he would send Aaron to be with him: ‘I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do’ (v.15b). Eventually Moses agreed to go God’s way and followed God’s call. Then all the battles started and things got worse rather than better.