Exodus Week 5: Pastor Johnny Scott
Exodus 4
Moses’ Excuse: “I Can’t Do This”
Exodus 4:10
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
False Humility Is Unbelief
Moses focuses on his weakness instead of God’s power
God had already:
-revealed His name
-shown miracles
-promised His presence-promised His words
Sometimes what sounds like humility is actually distrust in God
True Humility
Humility is not thinking less of yourself
It is thinking more about God
Humility trusts God enough to obey
Moses Saw:
-failure
-insecurity
-weakness
God Saw:
-a deliverer
-a prophet
-a leader
Moses introduced himself by his past
God called him by his future
God’s Response
Exodus 4:11-12
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”The Real Question
Not: “Can Moses do it?”
But: “Will Moses trust God enough to obey?”
Don’t Doubt God’s Craftsmanship
-God knows every weakness
-God still calls imperfect people
-God equips the people He sends
The Real Issue Comes Out
Exodus 4:13
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
Moses’ Excuses Keep Changing
1. “Who am I?”
2. “Who are You?”
3. “What if they don’t believe me?”
4. “I can’t speak.”
5. “Send someone else.”
The Heart Issue
-It was no longer inability
-It became resistance
Sometimes We Do the Same
-We call Him “Lord”
-But still say “no”
Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Ask Yourself
Where am I resisting God?
What has God asked me to do that I keep avoiding?
God’s Anger & God’s Grace
Exodus 4:14-17
Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
Important Truths
-God was frustrated with Moses
-Yet God still helped Moses
-God sent Aaron to go with him
Exodus 34:6
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness...”
God Is Both
-Holy
-Patient
-Truthful
-Compassionate
The Burning Bush Was Never About Fire
The Real Miracle
-Not a bush burning
-But a man finally saying “yes”
Aaron Was a Concession
-God still worked through Moses-But Aaron was not God’s original design-Later, Aaron became connected to compromise and the golden calf
God is not limited by the weakness we surrender to Him.
The greatest obstacle to God’s calling is often not inability — but unwillingness.
Delayed obedience is still resistance.
God can use imperfect people who finally say yes.
False Humility Is Unbelief
Moses focuses on his weakness instead of God’s power
God had already:
-revealed His name
-shown miracles
-promised His presence
Moses focuses on his weakness instead of God’s power
God had already:
-revealed His name
-shown miracles
-promised His presence
-promised His words
Sometimes what sounds like humility is actually distrust in God
True Humility
Humility is not thinking less of yourself
It is thinking more about God
Humility trusts God enough to obey
Humility is not thinking less of yourself
It is thinking more about God
Humility trusts God enough to obey
Moses Saw:
-failure
-insecurity
-weakness
-failure
-insecurity
-weakness
God Saw:
-a deliverer
-a prophet
-a leader
-a deliverer
-a prophet
-a leader
Moses introduced himself by his past
God called him by his future
God’s Response
Exodus 4:11-12
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:11-12
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
The Real Question
Not: “Can Moses do it?”
But: “Will Moses trust God enough to obey?”
Not: “Can Moses do it?”
But: “Will Moses trust God enough to obey?”
Don’t Doubt God’s Craftsmanship
-God knows every weakness
-God still calls imperfect people
-God equips the people He sends
-God knows every weakness
-God still calls imperfect people
-God equips the people He sends
The Real Issue Comes Out
Exodus 4:13
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
Exodus 4:13
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
Moses’ Excuses Keep Changing
1. “Who am I?”
2. “Who are You?”
3. “What if they don’t believe me?”
4. “I can’t speak.”
5. “Send someone else.”
1. “Who am I?”
2. “Who are You?”
3. “What if they don’t believe me?”
4. “I can’t speak.”
5. “Send someone else.”
The Heart Issue
-It was no longer inability
-It became resistance
-It was no longer inability
-It became resistance
Sometimes We Do the Same
-We call Him “Lord”
-But still say “no”
-We call Him “Lord”
-But still say “no”
Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Ask Yourself
Where am I resisting God?
What has God asked me to do that I keep avoiding?
Where am I resisting God?
What has God asked me to do that I keep avoiding?
God’s Anger & God’s Grace
Exodus 4:14-17
Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
Exodus 4:14-17
Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
Important Truths
-God was frustrated with Moses
-Yet God still helped Moses
-God sent Aaron to go with him
-God was frustrated with Moses
-Yet God still helped Moses
-God sent Aaron to go with him
Exodus 34:6
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness...”
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness...”
God Is Both
-Holy
-Patient
-Truthful
-Compassionate
-Holy
-Patient
-Truthful
-Compassionate
The Burning Bush Was Never About Fire
The Real Miracle
-Not a bush burning
-But a man finally saying “yes”
-Not a bush burning
-But a man finally saying “yes”
Aaron Was a Concession
-God still worked through Moses
-God still worked through Moses
-But Aaron was not God’s original design
-Later, Aaron became connected to compromise and the golden calf
God is not limited by the weakness we surrender to Him.
God is not limited by the weakness we surrender to Him.
The greatest obstacle to God’s calling is often not inability — but unwillingness.
Delayed obedience is still resistance.
Delayed obedience is still resistance.
God can use imperfect people who finally say yes.