Giving Excuses To God

God Sends Moses To Deliver Israel

“One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. ‘This is amazing,’ Moses said to himself. ‘Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.’ When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ ‘Here I am!’ Moses replied. ‘Do not come any closer,’ the LORD warned. ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD told him, ‘I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.’” Exodus 3:1-7, NLT

A. Introduction

1. Every vice has its excuse ready.

2. He that is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else.

3. If you don’t want to do something, one excuse is as good as another.

4. We have 40 million reasons for failure, but not one excuse.

B. Four Excuses Plus One

1. Unfit. “Who Am I? I am not good enough to serve God” (3:11, ELT). Answer: “I will be with you” (3:12, NLT).

2. Untaught. “What shall I tell them?” (3:13, ELT). Answer: “Tell them who I Am, I AM who I AM” (3:14, ELT).

3. Unbelieving. “God has not appeared to you” (4:1, ELT).

a. “A rod/staff, throw on the ground” (4:2, ELT).

b. “Put your hand into your bosom” (4:6, ELT).

c. “Water … pour on the ground” (4:9, ELT).

4. Unable. “I am slow of speech” (4:10, ELT).

Answer: “Who made man’s mouth?” (4:11, ELT) God has!

5. Unwilling. “Please send someone else” (4:13, ELT).

Answer: “The Lord became angry with Moses” (4:14, NLT).

C. Response

Have you ever made God mad? What should you have done then? Now?

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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