Welcome to Exodus 4, a continuation of God’s dialogue with Moses at the burning bush. In this chapter, Moses raised more objections to God’s calling in his life. However, Moses’ struggle should give us hope that if God was willing to use Moses in spite of his objections, He can use us even if our faith falters at some point.
Let us review…
1. OBJECTIONS TO THE LORD
Exo. 4:1 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’”
Moses continued making a bunch of excuses before God as to why he thinks he is not the man for the responsibility. From “I am a nobody” (Exo. 3:11-12) to “I don’t know your name” (Exo. 3:13-22), Moses continues his catalogue of excuses. Talking to a burning bush in itself was enough evidence, but the man Moses needed more.
Objection 3: Based on Moses’ Credibility
“But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice…”
Objection Answered: Based on the Signs From God
“What is that in your hand?”
This fear of rejection makes some of us shy away from preaching the gospel to sinners. God had told him that the elders would heed his voice, but he doubted if they’d believe him. Humanly speaking, it is hard to believe that someone spoke with a talking burning but unconsumed bush. So, one can understand his fears. Supernatural signs are very hard to believe. God addressed this objection with three signs. These three signs have spiritual significance for us:
- Staff turned to serpent: Jesus has power over Satan (the old serpent)
- Leprosy and healing: Jesus has power over Sin (leprosy)
- Water to Blood: Jesus redeemed us from both Satan and Sin through His Blood
We have all been bitten by the old serpent (Satan) and we have all committed leprous sins against God, and God can only wash away our sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.
God told Moses the clear purpose of these signs: “That they may believe that the LORD…has appeared to you.” Signs are given to counter people’s unbelief, not to elevate the preacher. Let us move on to Moses’ next objection.
Objection 4: Based on Moses’ Eloquence
“O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
Objection Answered: Based on the Sovereignty of God
“Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
Moses was focused on “self”, not his Saviour. How often do we tend to do the same…! The flesh loves to make us play the “pity card”, emphasising our human weaknesses. The same Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and was a man of power in words and deeds (Acts 7:22), but forty years had gone since then. His self-confidence was gone, and he needed God-confidence now. However, the irony of Moses’ excuse is that “although he was slow in speech, yet talked with God… and God clearly had no difficulty understanding him!”
God addressed his objection by asking some rhetorical questions that served as reminders that God is the Creator that cannot be caught unawares. Our abilities, inabilities, and even disabilities are known to him. He made us for his glory. If this is true, then we should not complain or grumble about our lack of ability. In the same vein, we should not take pride in the abilities that God gave us.
Objection 5: Based on Moses’ Willingness
“O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”
Objection Answered: Based on the Election of God
“Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.”
The first four excuses had been addressed by God. Moses’ fifth objection struck the wrong chord. He was unwilling to obey. He literally meant “I do not want God’s will for my life!” More like: “I am not your guy. Find someone else.” This got an angry reaction from God – an anger that His mercy resolved quickly. God’s displeasure was met with His graciousness and patience. He gave Moses a wise, gracious, patient response. He offered to help him in these ways:
- A Prepared Partner:
God prepared Aaron (Moses’ brother) as his partner in the mission. - A Proficient Partner:
Aaron was respected among the Israel community, and he was a good public speaker. - A Passionate Partner:
Aaron would be glad to see Moses. Every minister needs an assistant who is both ready and glad to assist him, without exposing his weaknesses. - A Priestly Partner:
God would anoint Aaron’s mouth for the ministry. It was not enough to be an articulate speaker, he needed to be an anointed speaker.
Dear Gogolights, whenever God calls us for an assignment, let us focus on His enablement and not our inadequacies. Remember the words of the golden hymn: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”
2. OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD
Exo. 4:18 So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”
Although Moses was slow to believe and accept God’s will, the moment he made the right decision, there was no going back for him. You’ll notice…
A. His Petition:
“Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt…”
Moses’ mind was now fully made up to go back to Egypt. God worked on Jethro’s heart to release and bless him, instead of stressing him like Laban did to Jacob. Whenever God calls us to another assignment, we have the responsibility to ensure that we disengage our current assignment with respect and integrity.
B. His Prompting:
“for all the men who sought your life are dead…”
As he stepped out in faith, God encouraged him. There was no more fear of death (Exo. 2:15). The evil Pharaoh had died and there was no death sentence on his head anymore. This is the same way Gabriel told Joseph “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” (Matt. 2:19-20).
C. His Possessions
“Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. ”
Moses took his family along in his mission. They were “all” he had, and only one donkey was enough to contain them. The only other hing he had was the rod of God in his hand. He was poor in this world, but rich in faith.
D. His Proofs:
“When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand.”
God empowered Moses to do miraculous signs with the singular purpose of communicating a message to Pharaoh: “Let My people go.”
E. His Punishment:
“the Lord met him and sought to kill him… — because of the circumcision.”
Moses was going to become Israel’s leader while violating the covenant of circumcision, as regards his son. Not doing circumcision means the person would be cut off from God’s people (Gen. 17:9–14). His Midianite wife obviously didn’t understand the need for circumcision, and she protested against him for it.
F. His Pure Delight:
“So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him.”
Moses and Aaron had a happy reunion after 40 years of separation. One can only imagine the joyful emotions that they exchanged between themselves.
G. His Pronouncement:
“And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses.”
They brought hope and deliverance to the poor oppressed people of Israel. This was the “Gospel” of God to them at that time. How was the good news received? They believed, they bowed, and they worshipped!
From this point onwards, we will be reading a lot about the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. To understand the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, I recommend that you listen to this sermon by Pastor Dammy: What the Gospel Stays Part 7b
Dear Gogolights, let us keep on keeping on… There is still much more to learn from the book of Exodus. If you have a friend who’s yet to join us, invite them personally to be a part of this journey.
Grace to you, Church!
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