Excuses (Part 1) Series

The Story of Moses: Excuses

Exodus 3-4 (Part 1)

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

03-23–2025

Hernia

In the summer of my sophomore year in college, I applied to work at a camp for handicapped kids in Virginia. It was an amazing camp and I was excited to spend my summer making a difference in these kid’s lives.

I was excited until about three week’s before I was supposed to leave. Then my excitement turned into terror. I had never really been away from home. I had never worked with handicapped kids. I wouldn’t be paid much and I had a car payment.

Five days before the camp began, I called the person that hired me and told her I couldn’t come. My excuse? I’m embarrassed that I lied and said I had a hernia. I’m not sure I knew exactly what a hernia was but fear had gotten the best of me. She was disappointed but understood.

I have always wondered how my life would be different if I had not let my fear win the day that summer.

Review

Last week, we found Moses in the backside of the desert after spending 40 years, (14,000 days), doing the same thing. Leading, protecting, and taking care of sheep. The flock wasn’t even his. He was a nobody in the middle of nowhere.

But God had a plan to get his attention - a bush that was aflame with the presence of God. Moses turned aside to see what was going on and God defined the terms of this interaction.

In the Middle East, it is still customary to remove your shoes when you enter a house. It’s a sign of respect, humility, and reverence.

In synagogues and mosques today it is required that you remove your shoes when entering.

God then gives Moses the reason for the warning. He is standing on “holy ground.” This is the first time the word “holy” is used in the Bible.”

If Moses had looked around, all he would have seen was a barren landscape. It didn’t look very holy to him.

But it wasn’t the place that made it holy but the presence in the place. God was there!

And He had a message for Moses. He had heard the cry of the Israelites and seen their misery. He had not been on vacation and He wasn’t uncaring.

He had been preparing a deliverer in the desert for the last forty years and the time had come for their deliverance.

Remember, from last week - God is the God of second chances!

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Forty years earlier, Moses had tried to kickstart this whole deliverance thing on his own and he failed. Now he is older, wiser, and more humble. God thought he was ready. But Moses had excuses why he wasn’t the right one for the job.

Remember how D.L Moody described Moses’s life:

“Moses spent 40 years thinking he was somebody; 40 years learning he was nobody, and 40 years discovering what God can do with a nobody”. 

Turn with me to Exodus 3, verse 11.

Prayer.

Excuse Number #1: Who I am?

In 1992, a man running for lieutenant governor of Washington State legally changed his name to “Absolutely Nobody.” He wanted to introduce himself, “Hi! I’m absolutely nobody. Vote for me.”

This guy and Moses could have been friends.

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Ex 3:11)

Wait a minute! What does Moses mean, “who am I?” He is the absolute perfect person for this mission. Raised in Egypt, fluent in the language and culture, forty years of experience of leading and protecting a group of sheep under his care.

It’s never a good thing when God calls us and our first word in response is “but…”.

Forty years ago, Moses was arrogant and impetuous. Forty years in the desert had humbled him. But this wasn’t humility. He was questioning his adequacy.

Forty years earlier, he was confident and impulsive. He knew he was the deliverer. He didn’t hesitate to kill the Egyptian taskmaster. But that all blew up in his face. That was a long time ago.

How does God respond?

“And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

God promises His presence. He will be with him as he accomplishes this mission. He will not go alone.

More than that, He also promises a sign to support the promise. After Moses leads them out of Egypt, they will end up right back here at Mr Horeb, better known as Mt. Sinai. This is where they will worship God and where Moses will receive the Ten Commandments from the very hand of God.