I have read through Exodus 3 and 4 many times in my life. In all honesty, I think that I usually approached the passage with a bit of self-righteous marvel at the fact that Moses would have the audacity to question God’s wisdom in choosing him to confront Pharaoh and lead the people out of Egypt. After all, didn’t Moses just witness God calling to him from a bush that was not consumed despite the fact that it was burning? How could he deny or doubt the power of God? As I read this same passage most recently, however, I saw more of myself in Moses than I have ever seen before as he offered up to God four different expressions of doubt about the wisdom of God choosing him for such a task.
The first expression comes in chapter 3, verse 10 as Moses asks God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” Moses is reluctant to do that which God has clearly called him to do because of doubts about his own qualifications or abilities. The second expression comes in verse 13 as Moses worries over what to say when the people of Israel ask who the God is who has sent him. The third expression is found in chapter 4, verse 1, when Moses questions God as to what he should say if the people do not believe the message God has given him. Lastly, in verse 10, Moses points out to God that he is “slow of speech and tongue” and has never “been eloquent,” essentially reiterating his first point about questioning God’s judgment in choosing him.
As I read this passage, I was confronted with the reality that as a believer, God has given to me a similar commandment to proclaim the Gospel in both word and deed. There is a world in bondage that needs to be delivered, and I am one of his chosen means for making that happen. I realized, though, that I have a tendency to defer to these same types of doubts and excuses when I feel apprehensive, reluctant, or even rebellious in doing what God has called me to do. Sometimes, like Moses, I wonder at God’s wisdom in choosing me and feel inadequate for the task at hand, especially when I feel called to share with someone who seems so far from ever believing. Sometimes I struggle over what to say about God and how to present him and the message of salvation to a people that have never heard or are hostile to the Gospel. I often fear that my efforts will be in vain. Like Moses, I sometimes feel “slow in speech and tongue” and have a tendency to
think of great things to say minutes or even hours later after the conversation is over. All of these excuses have lead to me pass up on opportunities that God has clearly given to me in the past. Needless to say, this realization has been rather convicting for me.
The encouraging part of the passage, though, is that God listens to Moses and has a response for each of his doubts. When Moses questions God’s wisdom in choosing him, God’s response is “I will be with you” (3:12) essentially reminding Moses that it not about Moses at all but rather about God proving his faithfulness through the impending deliverance for his people! When Moses asks God what name he should give to the people when they ask who sent him, God tells Moses to tell the Israelites that “I Am” has sent him. This name essentially serves as a reminder that God is the essence of all things, is complete in his character and his being, and is demonstrating his faithfulness to his people through their deliverance. When Moses expresses his doubt that the people will believe him, God offers to Moses several signs that will serve as proof of the message, the last of which is mentioned in 4:9- water from the Nile will turn into blood.
Thus, with each doubt that Moses expressed, God patiently offered a response that addressed Moses’ insecurities and excuses (and yet did not let him off the hook for the task at hand).
The responses that God gave to Moses in this passage can also serve as a comfort to people like me who sometimes struggle with feelings of inadequacy when it comes to sharing the Gospel message. Like Moses, I need to realize that it’s not about me at all, but rather God working through me to call people to himself. Thus, I need not let the concerns that I have about how I will be accepted or perceived to stop me from speaking boldly. When I struggle with what to say and how to present God (which sometimes seems like an overwhelming task when you think about all that God is!), I should be reminded that God has simply called me to proclaim his character. He is a faithful, loving, just, merciful, gracious, and jealous God who is in the businesses of reconciling people to himself, and that’s what I should be telling others. And, just like Moses, God has provided a sign for me- this time however, the sign is that of the blood of Christ, shed on the
cross.
In looking for something to offer to people as “proof” of the message, I need to look no further than the cross and proclaim that message boldly and with confidence.
