Lacking Faith To Lead (Exodus 4)

Can humility and self-doubt cause us to doubt God? Was God angry with Moses' lack of faith? Do we have doubts about ourselves? Do we trust that God can use an imperfect person such as us? Let's look at Exodus 4.

Did Moses doubt that he would be believed? Do we also doubt, afraid to share the Good News?

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” (Exodus 4:1 ESV)

How did God reassure Moses? Does God reassure us, to tell the Good News?

The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake. Moses ran from it, but the Lord told him, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. “This will take place,” He continued, “so they will believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:2-5 HCSB)

What other assurances did God use to encourage Moses in his task? How does God encourage us?

Again the Lord told him, “Put your hand into your bosom.” He put his hand into his bosom and as soon as he brought it out it was leprous, like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back into your bosom.” He returned it to his bosom and as soon as he brought it out, it was restored like the rest of his skin. “Then if they don’t believe you and respond to the first sign, they may respond to the second sign. But if they don’t believe even these two signs, and won’t listen to you, then take some water out of the Nile River and pour it on the dry ground. The water you took from the Nile River will turn into blood on the dry ground.” (Exodus 4:6-9 ISV)

Was Moses still rather unsure of himself? Do many of us have similar reservations?

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (Exodus 4:10 KJV)

What was God’s answer to Moses’ self-doubt? Was he really doubting God?

And Yahweh said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? So now, go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth and will instruct you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:11-12 LSB)

Did Moses continue his doubt and try to pass the task to someone else?

But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13 ESV)

Was God angry with Moses and his excuses, his lack of trust in God?

Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I Myself will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will instruct you in what you are to do. He shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. And you shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.” (Exodus 4:14-17 NASB)

Did Moses seek leave from his father-in-law? What about the death threats hanging over his head in Egypt? What about his family?

Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.” Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.” Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.” So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand. (Exodus 4:18-20 NIV)

What further instructions did Moses receive from the Lord? Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:3; 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; 10:27; 14:4; 14:8)? Was Pharaoh already stubborn in heart (Exodus 8:15; 8:32; 9:34)? Or, is the human heart just hard (Exodus 7:13; 7:22; 9:7; 9:35)? Scriptures seem to indicate all three scenarios.

And the Lord told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go. Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’” (Exodus 4:21-23 NLT)