I promised a few more entries on the topic of 'Put Me In, Coach," so here is the second with two more to go. Last week, we looked at King Saul and his reluctance to step up and step out to fulfill God's purpose for his life. This week we look at Moses, and you may be surprised to learn that he also was reluctant to put himself in the game, so much so that the Lord's anger burned against him. Let's look at how all that played out in Moses' story and life.
EXCUSES
When God spoke to him from the bush, Moses’ first comment was, “Here I am!” He seemed ready to do what God wanted before He knew what it was, an attitude that we would do well to imitate. Then Moses offered his first excuse, however, when he asked, “Who am I?’ I related that question to our tendency to discount our ability to accomplish our purpose when we find out what it is.
Later, Moses’ second excuse was: “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" (Exodus 3:13). Moses was coming up with the excuse that he wasn’t ready and didn’t know enough about God, so he could not go. His third excuse was: “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?" (Exodus 4:1). This question indicated that Moses was concerned he would fail, which is a common hindrance to being purposeful and creative for all of us.
Moses’ fourth excuse was, “Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he [Moses] replied” (Exodus 4:2). God was teaching Moses to use what he had and not to fret over what he didn’t have. Moses’ fifth excuse was: “Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue'” (Exodus 4:10). With this excuse, Moses had moved from honest questioning to procrastination. He was working hard to come up with some excuse, any excuse, so he wouldn’t have to go to Egypt.
When we look at Moses’ final comment at the burning bush, we see that Moses, having expressed five excuses, simply refused to go to Egypt. “But Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it’” (Exodus 4:13). In essence, Moses said not to God, refusing to go and basically saying, "Don't put me in, Coach."
What was God’s response? “Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses” (Exodus 4:14). Up to this point in the story, God was patient and gracious with Moses, responding to all his objections. At this point, however, God was angry. I hope I never make God that angry, but this story proves that it can happen. God is patient but there are limitations to His patience, and we are never quite sure when we will reach those limitations.
MISSING PURPOSE?
People ask me all the time, “Can you refuse your purpose?” and my answer is always a resounding yes. Consider these two passages:
- “But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves” (Luke 7:30).
- "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
You can receive the grace of God’s purpose in vain, choosing to ignore or do nothing with it. You can sit on your gifts, remaining in the comfort zone of life rather than experiencing the discomfort of new faith experiences. You can also be so afraid of doing the wrong thing that you choose to do nothing. God had answered and addressed each of Moses’ questions and concerns so that the real reason for Moses’ reluctance could be revealed: Moses just didn’t want to do it.
How about you? Are you testing God’s patience through delays and excuses? The good news is that after Moses gave his final answer, God assigned Aaron to go with him and sent them both on their way to Egypt, where they changed the course of history. If you confess this week that you don’t want to fulfill your purpose, that you’re scared, lazy, or lack confidence, then the Lord will still help you.
You are not alone in your PurposeQuest; God is with you, even if you are hesitant. All you have to do this week is acknowledge where you are and ask God’s help. He will do the rest. Let this be the week when you face reality and still move on to do great things for God, just like Moses did. Have a blessed week.
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