From Excuses to Obedience

What do we do when God calls us to something extraordinary but we feel utterly ordinary? This powerful exploration of Exodus 4 takes us into the raw, honest conversation between Moses and God at the burning bush. We witness Moses wrestling with fear, inadequacy, and a litany of excuses—'What if they don't believe me? What if they reject me? I'm not eloquent enough.' How often do we focus on what we lack rather than what God has already placed in our hands? The beautiful revelation here is that God doesn't ask Moses to be someone he's not; instead, God asks, 'What do you have?' Just an ordinary shepherd's staff—yet in God's hands, it becomes the instrument of miracles. The serpent, the leprous hand restored, the water turned to blood—each sign demonstrates God's authority over sin, sickness, and the powers of this world. But perhaps the most profound lesson emerges when God's anger is kindled against Moses for his persistent excuses. We see that our reluctance to obey doesn't just delay God's work; it can cause us to miss out on the fullness of blessing He intended. The chapter also reminds us that before we can confront the 'Pharaohs' in our world, God must first deal with our private lives. Moses hadn't even circumcised his son—his public calling couldn't move forward until his private covenant was honored. As we step into this new year, the question confronts us directly: Will we offer excuses, or will we be obedient? God isn't looking for the most talented or eloquent; He's looking for the willing.