Moses' Objections...and Ours

14th in a series on how men and women in the Bible

deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment

Moses’ Objections…and Ours

or 

Moses’ New Career

Moses is now in his second career.  His first being a prince of Egypt for about 40 years. His second…a shepherd in the desert working for his father-in-law for another 40 years.  Now God is calling him to his third…God’s spokesman or Israel’s deliverer

How long had Moses known that he was a Hebrew?  Maybe he thought he might be the next Joseph and he was biding his time while he figured out a plan to rescue his people.  The Pharaoh must have known Moses’ heredity and yet he still raised him as a son.  All is going fine until Moses exercises his leadership skills and kills an Egyptian.  He thinks this has gone unnoticed until he gets into the middle of a fight between two Israelites.  And they reveal that news of his reputation as a murderer had indeed spread.

Thrust into the desert, you may picture the handsome Charlton Heston rescuing Jethro’s daughters in Cecil B. Demille’s “Ten Commandments”.  It’s there that he seemingly settles into a whole new life.  Until…the burning bush incident.  Many of us have had experiences where we sensed a desire for a change of career.  We may even call it our ‘burning bush moment’.  A 180 degree switch.  We might even say, ‘this new job or career is what I’m made for.’  But, like Moses, some of us may have been reluctant to change.  So, let’s examine five objections that Moses had and discover if we see ourselves.

Objection #1: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Understandably, Moses had 40 years to get used to the idea of being a shepherd.  All his princely training was out the window.  At the age of 80 or so, he was probably quite content to pine away his last days with the sheep in the wilderness.  But God had a different idea.  

God’s answer: “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

Why would we say ‘No’ to that?  God’s presence today is no less real.  And yet, we often face our jobs, conflict and unemployment as if we are all alone.  Let this resonate in your mind… “I will be with you”.  

Objection #2: “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?”

Great question?  It appears Moses is probably just a legend…unheard of for 40 years.  And now he’s supposed to go back with a message from God?  Right!  (Check out Bill Cosby’s “Noah” for that reference).  When I went home one night a few years ago and suggested that we move overseas and that God told me to, can you imagine my wife’s response?

God’s answer: “I am who I am.”

Okay, can you be more specific?  This is not what we were expecting.  The Hebrew spelling looks something like ‘Yahweh’.  It means that God is.  He is not past, present or future.  He is outside of time.  He is undefinable.  Awesome.  All powerful, All knowing and everywhere at the same time.  Does that sound like a God that could do something about your current difficult situation?  Whether it be an illness, unemployment or a conflict.  

Objection #3: “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

I think that’s reasonable.  They might be saying, “Your name again is……”  You say you grew up here?  You’ve been in the desert so long that your brains are fried.  You’re sunbaked.  There’s one of you and a million of us and you’re expecting us to believe that THE God appeared to you?!?!  I don’t think so.  But believers in the God of the Bible do believe that God still speaks…just differently.  Through His Word and the Holy Spirit.  In practical ways which speak to us in every avenue of life.  Even in regards to our careers.

God’s answer: Check this out.  “Throw your staff on the ground.”  It became a snake.  “Stick your hand in your cloak.”  It became leprous.  “Put it back in.”  It was clean again.  “Throw this water in the Nile”.  It will turn to blood.”

With these tricks and sleight of hand, Moses showed that he was no ordinary guy.  Honestly, I’d like to see confirmation like that in my life.  Imagine having a choice between two good things and this big arrow comes from heaven and points you in the right direction.  But I suppose God doesn’t work like that anymore.  We do have the Bible though.  Something Moses didn’t have…yet.

Objection #4: “Pardon your servant, 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.”

Do I detect whining here?  And whining is not reserved for eight year olds who don’t get their way.  I’ve heard many adult carry on some serious whining when they felt left out, unheard or looked over.  Why do you think the Apostle Paul commands us to “Do everything without complaining?”  Because we do it so well.

God’s Answer: “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Another good answer.  Is it becoming clear that it’s hard to argue with God?  Can this be applied also to the jobs to which he has called us?  We may find ourselves in over our heads and faith becomes real.  God loves it when we have to depend upon Him.  It’s then that He gets the credit for the seemingly impossible.  Anyone feel like they are in an impossible situation?  

Objection #5: “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Since God had an answer for every one of his objections, this seems like the only way out.  It reminds me of friends who are recently unemployed and for a couple of weeks just lie around the house feeling worthless.  The receiving of the ‘pink slip’ sucked the life out of any motivation they might have to move forward.  Naturally, we collapse in a corner and have our little pity party.  This is what happens when we think we’re all alone.  But God has an answer even for this objection.

God’s answer: Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?

Okay, so Moses ticked God off.  Yes, God could have chosen someone else.  Sometimes, on any given day, I wonder if God has chosen me for the  particular predicament in which I find myself.  Someone has even said, “God has entrusted you with that problem.”  We seem to grow better when faced with difficulty.  Again, the Apostle Paul tells us that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

So, what’s your question or objection for God?  He will not be surprised and He’s got a ready answer.  Actually, He’s given us the answer even before the question is formed on our lips.  And the best way we can know it is through reading the Bible.  Everything we need to know is at our finger tips.  The sad truth is that for many of us, the Bible sits on our shelf unopened.  I pray that you would know the hope that is available to you today.  Open it.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:18,19