By Austin B. Tucker
08.31.08
Proper 17
Exodus 3:1-15
On May 31, 1792, a little congregation in Nottingham, England heard a shoemaker preach about people far away in need of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had a vision of reaching those multitudes, and he called on this congregation to catch the vision. “Expect great things from God!” said William Carey. “Attempt great things for God!”
Almost to a man, they made excuses. One of the ministers there is reported to have said, “Sit down, young man, when God is pleased to convert the heathen, he will do so without your help or mine.”
God called Moses in the burning bush encounter in the wilderness of Horeb. Moses made excuses. God still calls his own to his service, and still we make our excuses. In this chapter and the one that follows, Moses made five excuses that sound disturbingly familiar.
I. His first excuse: Who am I that I should go? (
v. 3:10).
That might be genuine humility or false humility. It does not matter. In either case, the answer is: You are a nobody that God has chosen to make somebody. You are nothing, but God is everything. Moses was trained in all the arts and sciences of Pharaoh’s court, but Egyptians sneered at shepherds. Never mind. God had in mind for Moses to shepherd the whole nation of Israel. Nobody, Moses? You are the one Almighty God is calling! He has a big job for you, and he is promising to go with you (
v. 12).
II. His second excuse seems to be “Who are You?” (
v. 3:13).
Moses thought of going to his people and claiming the God of their fathers had sent him. Then they might reply, “Which God are we talking about?” What would Moses say? God told him to tell them the Sovereign God sent him. Tell them, “I am who I am.” Tell them “I AM” has sent me unto you. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (
vv. 3:13-14). He is the God who really is God – the self-existent One. He is the God who sees and knows and cares. He is the God who can and will bring his people out of bondage.
III. His third excuse was “What if they do not believe me or listen to me?” (
v. 4:1).