INEXCUSABLE EXCUSES
(Moses’ Excuses, God’s responses)
Exodus 4:10-17
by: Sis. Diane Leonardo
The previous chapters and verses before our text today mentioned God’s different miracles shown to the life of Moses. E.g. his rod turning into a snake, his hand being placed in the bosom and became leprous yet God turned it back to normal and a lot more. Nevertheless, despite countless miracles, Moses still had a couple of excuses.
1. Moses’s 1st excuse: Being ineloquent
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “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.”
Moses looked at his own strength and abilities. He found himself so incapable of doing God’s work because of his own little excuse. In our lives, we tend to rate our own selves by saying “I cannot mentor someone because I’m not a good people person in the first place”. Yet God has a different view every time He looks at our individual weaknesses. To Him, it is an opportunity to make use of our weaknesses for His glory. We can always qualify to do God’s work through His grace not by our own strength and abilities. Again, as the famous saying that goes “God did not call the qualified, rather, He qualifies the called”.
God’s response: Encouragement
11 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
God explained and showed to Moses that He was the Maker, Author and Owner of everything. We should not worry. God is always on the positive side. He is always an encourager and a lifter at times that we want to back out from our walk with Him. God encouraged Moses with a promise that He will be with His mouth, teaching him what to say.
12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
2. Moses 2nd excuse: Unwillingness due to unbelief and inadequacy
13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”
Moses wasn’t convinced on God’s first encouragement. He had a disbelieving heart, to the point of suggesting God to give the work to someone else. We tend to behave like Moses several times in our lives and pass on to someone the tasks that must be done by us. We try to “appreciate” the suggested person to cover our own weaknesses and inadequacies.
“Lord, di ko kayang i-mentor si…., si sister/brother na lang Lord…, magaling naman sya eh.”
God’s response: Support in spite of anger
14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 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. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
God is a good example of having good character. Despite Moses’ excuses, He supported him all the way through.
2 things are being emphasized here:
1. Continue supporting someone even during the time of anger and after getting angry on the person (huwag iwasan ang tao)
2. Provide someone who could encourage and support the appointed person (huwag pabayaan)
He said in verse 15:
15…And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.
In the world of mentorship, support is one of the key ingredients to successfully disciple someone. It is our responsibility to patiently teach until we find the fruit of our labor. This is called “taking responsibility”. God continues on by giving more encouragement.
16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
In present times, the one or more of the following are our excuses:
Ten Most Used Excuses:
1. I forgot.
2. No one told me to go ahead.
3. I didn't think it was that important.
4. Wait until the boss comes back and ask him.
5. I didn't know you were in a hurry for it.
6. That's the way we've always done it.
7. That's not in my department.
8. How was I to know this was different?
9. I'm waiting for an O.K.
10. That's his job--not mine.
2. No one told me to go ahead.
3. I didn't think it was that important.
4. Wait until the boss comes back and ask him.
5. I didn't know you were in a hurry for it.
6. That's the way we've always done it.
7. That's not in my department.
8. How was I to know this was different?
9. I'm waiting for an O.K.
10. That's his job--not mine.
Bits & Pieces, November, 1989, p. 18.
Conclusion: Our weakness and His strength
Let me conclude my message with this beautiful illustration:
The folklore surrounding Poland's famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignace Paderewski, includes this story:
A mother, wishing to encourage her young son's progress at the piano, bought tickets for a Paderewski performance. When the night arrived, they found their seats near the front of the hall and eyed the majestic Steinway piano waiting on the stage.
Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away. When 8 pm arrived, the spotlights came on, the audience quieted, and only then did they notice the boy up on stage sitting at the bench, innocently picking out, "Twinkle, twinkle little star."
His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. "Don't quit - keep playing," he whispered to the boy.
Leaning over, the master reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side, encircling the child, to add a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized.
In our lives, unpolished though they may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear, time and time again, "Don't quit, keep playing." And as we do, he augments and supplements until a work of amazing beauty is created.
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