Brian "pb" Brijbag

Excuses

Why is that we feel that we can offer excuses when it comes to things of the church that would be ridiculous if used anywhere else?  Have you ever wondered what would happen if people were as intense, committed and determined about church as they are about sports – or any number of other pastimes?  Some years ago Moody Monthly ran a piece which included excuses which a fellow might use for quitting sports:

 “Every time I went they asked for money.”
“The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.”
“The seats were too hard and uncomfortable.”
“The coach never came to see me.”
“The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.”
“I was sitting with some hypocrites – they only came to see what others were wearing.”
“Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.”
“The band played numbers that I had never heard before.”
“The games were scheduled when I want to do other things.”
“My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.”
“I don’t want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.”
[as quoted by Charles Swindoll. The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart And 1,501 Other Stories. (Nashville: Word, 1998.) p. 189]

In Exodus 3, we see God tell Moses that He has heard the cry of Israel for deliverance and that He is now ready to deliver them.  Then the surprise came in verse ten when God said, “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

 The excuses start.

“I’m too busy, I’m already doing this, get someone else.”
“Homework.”
‘I have Football, Band, Cheerleading, and Norwegian Mountain Dulcimer practice all at the same time!”

Moses had his “reasons” for not following the call of God.  Moses begins a series of five reasons to demonstrate sufficient weakness so as not to be responsible for the call which God had given him.

Excuse One – The “Who Me” Excuse. (3:11-12)
The first excuse that Moses offers is kind of pitiful, but see if it does not sound like something that you may have said to God.  Verse eleven says, “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’”  Moses is terrified of being rejected and feeling like a failure.

Moses’ first excuse expressed doubt in himself; his second excuse unfortunately, however, expresses doubt in God.

Excuse Two – “By What Authority” (3:13-15)
Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
God didn’t ask Moses to go and explain all that he did not know about God.  He just asked him to go and explain what he did know!!!
The reason why so many people are not committed to God, quite frankly, is they do not know God.  They sort of know about Him.  But like the Hebrews in Egypt, they have lost track of who God is.

When God tells Moses that “I Am who I Am,” He is literally saying that “I am He who was, and is and always shall be!” or “I will continue to be what I have always been.”

Excuse Three -The “What Ifs” (4:1- 9)
Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”

Have you ever used that as an excuse for not sharing your faith, “I would, but I am not an expert on the Bible.  They might ask me a question that I do not know the answer to.”

Moses was so concerned about what might happen, he didn’t hear what God said would happen.
God has revealed Himself to Moses, told Moses of His desire to deliver the people, has promised him success, and given him three signs that the people will believe him.  Despite all this revelation, it is not enough for Moses.

Excuse Four – “But Lord I Don’t Speak Well” (4:10-12)
Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

He may have been slow of tongue but he seems fast enough with the excuses.

Our inadequacies are not problems for God.  He made us the way we are.  But if we do not make ourselves available, then God’s plan for our lives cannot go forward.

Excuse Five – “Send Someone Else” (4:13-17)
But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

This last objection was not based on even the slimmest shred of a reason.  Moses just does not want to do it.  Moses is simply putting his foot down and telling God, “No!”

God accommodated Moses’ lack of faith, but the compromise was less than God’s best.

God’s perfect will is always better than His permissive will!

Dr. B. J. Miller once said, “It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it.” – (MBI’s Today In The Word, November, 1989, p.11)

 The cost of obedience is nothing when compared with the cost of disobedience.

Can’t or Won’t?  Christians need to be very careful which one they choose.  Although we often choose to say we can’t, it really is a case of we won’t.  Is your excuse “I can’t” or “I won’t?” Let face facts – when we refuse to follow the Lord, it is because we won’t…we disobey because we choose to… not because we have to.  The sooner we accept the truth, the sooner we can make a change.

Intricately involved in God’s calling is God’s Plan.  Now listen carefully to what I am about to say or you may not understand.  God has a plan, but He never expects you to carry out the plan.  He is going to see that it is carried out.  He simply wants you to make yourself available as His instrument.  

After all, it is His reputation that is at stake, not yours.