Excuses - Exodus 4

Why don't we witness to others as we should? Are we scared of what others might think? Are we scared we might not be able to answer their questions? Are we scared of persecution or of being laughed at? Are we too prideful? Are we ashamed of Christ? 

In Exodus chapter 4 God calls Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and Moses gives two specific excuses of why he can't lead the children of Israel. 

Excuse #1: Exodus 4:1 "...But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice..." 

Moses is saying that the people won't listen to him, they won't believe him... so why would they follow him? 

Excuse #2: Exodus 4:10 "...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." In this second excuse Moses is telling God that he can't speak...to others or with fancy words. So...how could he tell Pharoah to let the Israelites go if he couldn't speak? 

Do these excuses sound familiar? No? Maybe put them in the context of witnessing. Have you ever been promoted by the Holy Spirit to go talk to someone or give them a tract and you say...

"I can't do that! They won't listen to me! Even if they did listen to me, they won't believe me!" 

"I can't go talk to them...I don't know them! I can't just strike up a conversation with a complete stranger!" 

I'm preachin to the choir here...I have used the same excuses Moses gave so many times. How many lost souls have I turned a blind eye to when instead of witnessing to them when the Holy Spirit prompted I gave excuses and didn't talk to them? 

In being a bright light in this dark world we...*I* must be witnessing to those around me. NO EXCUSES! 

Romans 10:14-15

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

This can also be applied to the context of following God's will for our lives. How many times has God showed us the next step and we've argued...

"I can't do that! I'm not equipped or prepared to do that!" 

Yet God is so patient with us as He was patient with Moses. He doesn't force us to follow Him but He prompts, He convicts and He pricks until we decide whether or not we will follow Him. 

Praise the Lord for His patience, His mercy, His kindness and His love to us stubborn humans. We can think up of every excuse under the sun but at the end of the day God well use us and equip us for what He has called us to do, we must simply 

     Trust. 

      Obey.

      Follow.