Excuses 

It was the middle of the second month in the desert, when the children of Israel began to grumble about their lack of food.   

Exodus 16:2 – The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 

Note that they didn’t pray about their situation – they grumbled! 

They reached out to Moses, who had a personal relationship with God, and He told Moses about the manna that He would send on a daily basis, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.  Exodus 16:4b 

Moses was their leader, so they spoke to him, and he spoke with God.  It’s great to see the leadership of Moses in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, but it’s interesting to see that his ministry started with excuses! 

He encountered God at the burning bush, and God told him about the difficulties his fellow Israelites were facing in Egypt.  So, God said,  “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”  Exodus 3:10 

But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”  Exodus 3:11 

Not surprising!  That was a pretty tall order!  Moses hadn’t led anything but livestock for the past 40 years! 

But, God answered him by saying, “Certainly I will be with you,…”  Exodus 3:12a 

And, that’s the point!  God doesn’t ask us to do things on our own.  He asks us to come with Him. 

Moses was receptive, as God responded to his questions about His name, and about God providing miraculous signs. 

Then, he complains, “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue,” to which God said, “Who made mouths?”  Exodus 4:10b-11  God solved that one, too, by sending Aaron with Moses.  Moses became a great leader, despite his excuses, which gives us hope! 

Nowhere in the Bible are we told to make excuses!  We are frequently told to follow. 

Jesus tells us to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples.  He never said, “Make excuses!” 

But, that’s what I often hear when I encourage men to find a Timothy to disciple. 

Be assured that God is with us in every situation, whether we are complaining, or making excuses.  Maybe we should stop and pray about those things, instead of saying, “I can’t do that!”