Connecting Scriptures:  Matthew 10:19-20, Luke 12:11-12, Genesis 28:13, Micah 6:4, Psalm 94:9, Psalm 146:8, Proverbs 20:12, Jeremiah 1:9, Romans 9:18, Hosea 11:1, Genesis 17:14  

The heading in my ESV bible for this chapter is: Moses Given Powerful Signs (which they absolutely were).  But, I want to add: To Answer His Excuses.  Because he was laying it on thick, wasn’t he?  I can’t really blame him.  Here he was, 80 years old, comfortable, settled, had a pretty cushy job…and BAM!  God speaks and everything is turned upside down.  The initial encounter and amazement of the burning bush has worn off a bit and Moses is seeing God’s command for him to go as being way too big for him.  Well, he was right.  God sized things will always be too big for us.  We will not have the strength or resources on our own to accomplish them.  I think that is why many of us excuse away “God moments” in our lives.  We felt the rush, but the reality and the cost are too much.  ‘Maybe I didn’t hear from God, maybe I can just stay the same?’

God wasn’t taking Moses’ excuses here.  With every “But, what if…”, or, “I can’t…”, God remained steady and gave him answers that should have calmed his fears.  He gave him the ability to perform miracles as proof of God’s power to save.  And not just one, but three!  Still, all Moses could see was himself and his deficiencies.  Perhaps his mind drifted back to his upbringing in Egypt, living as an Egyptian prince in a Hebrews skin.  How, in his strength, all he could produce was violence and murder.  No—he was sure he was not the right man for the job.  That is when God reminds Moses not to look within, but to look to Him—the One who created all life and knew Moses better than he knew himself.  I can see myself here, in Moses’ headspace.  So often I am disabled by all my perceived lack.  I don’t have enough provision or talent or time for what God is asking of me.  So, I am frozen into thinking that all God is calling me to, is up to me.  I think we can see from scripture that God is desiring us to to see that we are never alone in our callings.  Moses was just a man, and God knew that full well, but he was the vessel God had chosen and He was telling him to be open.  Be open to how God is wanting to grow you.  

That last excuse—I felt it deep.  “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”  That was the heart of it.  God, I don’t want to do this.  I’ve been there too.  Beyond feeling like you are ill equipped, there is the dread of having to go and do the “worst imaginable thing—ever”.  The thought of going back to a place of utter failure for Moses was the last thing on his list.  But, it was the only place God was commanding him to go.  Enter the companion.  God knows that we need to understand that it is God’s work.  We also need to have a friend with us.  Aaron was Moses’ brother and he would be invaluable to the task ahead.  An eloquent speaker and excellent wingman, it seems the relief of knowing he wouldn’t be alone and that it would be his brother, got him over the hump of excuses.  When they meet on the long journey to Egypt, it was a blessed reunion.  Aaron wasn’t just there for moral support, he would be on the same page with Moses and help to lead and intercede for all of Israel (not always perfectly, but like Moses, he was open to God). 

Questions for Reflection:

1.  What “God sized tasks” has the LORD brought before you?  What excuses have you held onto in order to avoid your calling?  How is God calling you to trust him today in the things only He can accomplish, through you?

2.  Has God brought along someone in your life that has brought you courage to follow God into hard places?  Praise Him for those friendships!