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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. EXCUSE #1 – LACK OF CREDENTIALS
A. MOSES’ DEFENSE
>>1. I DON’T HAVE ABILITY
Ex 3:11a But Moses said to God, “Who am I
>>2. I DON’T HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION
Ex 3:11b that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
B. GOD’S DECLARATION
>>1. REST IN PROMISE OF GOD
Ex 3:12a He said, “But I will be with you
>>2. ASSURANCE IN GOD’S PLAN
Ex 3:12b and this is what the ‘sign’ means for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (Mt 28:18-20)
II. EXCUSE #2 – LACK OF CONTENT
A. MOSES’ DEFENSE
>>1. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Ex 3:13a Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ (Gen 14:22; 17:1; 21:33; 22:14; 16:13; 33:20; 35:7; Josh 24:14)
>>2. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT I’LL SAY
Ex 3:13b What shall I say to them?”
B. GOD’S DECLARATION
>>1. TRUST THE ONE GOD
Ex 3:14-15 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘YHWH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’
This is My name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (I Jn 4:8; Is 40:28; Jn 8:24,28,58; Jn 18:4-6; Mal 3:6)
>>2. PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD
Ex 3:16-17 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘YHWH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”‘
>>3. RELY ON GOD’S WORK
Ex 3:18-20 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘YHWH, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to YHWH our God.’
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So, I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
>>4. REAP GOD’S PROVISION
Ex 3:21-22 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. You will thereby plunder the Egyptians.” (Deut 15:12-14)
III. EXCUSE #3 – LACK OF CONVERTS
A. MOSES’ DEFENSE
>>1. I DON’T HAVE CONFIDENCE
Ex 4:1a Then Moses answered, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice”
>>2. I DON’T HAVE RESPECT
Ex 4:1b “for they will say, ‘YHWH did not appear to you.’”
B. GOD’S DECLARATION
>>1. RECOGNIZE GOD’S AUTHORITY
Ex 4:2-3 YHWH said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So, he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.
Ex 4:4-5 But YHWH said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”, (he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand) “that they may believe that YHWH, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” (Jud 3:31; 15:15; I Sam 17:49; Jn 6:9; Ex 4:20; 17:9)
>>2. REALIZE YOUR OWN HUMILITY
Ex 4:6-7 Again, YHWH said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So, he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
Ex 4:8-9 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”
IV. EXCUSE #4 – LACK OF COMMUNICATION
A. MOSES’ DEFENSE
>>1. I DON’T HAVE ELOQUENCE
Ex 4:10a But Moses said to YHWH, “Oh, my Lord, I’m not articulate, either before or after You’ve spoken to Your servant,
>>2. I DON’T HAVE COMPETENCE
Ex 4:10b but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Acts 7:22; II Cor 3:5; Eph 3:8)
B. GOD’S DECLARATION
>>1. SUBMIT TO THE CREATOR
Ex 4:11 Then YHWH said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, YHWH? (I Cor 2:1-5)
>>2. DECLARE THE MESSAGE
Ex 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”