Bible Study of Exodus 4:1-17
God wants Moses to go to Egypt – Moses makes excuses of why he can’t do it.
This study lesson from the Bible shows how God gave signs and used a simple tool to do his mighty work in the Exodus of Israel.
God gives Moses everything he needs, including Aaron, to face Pharaoh and bring the people out of bondage.
Moses and Signs from God – Doubts and Excuses
Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’”
The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”
Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.”
So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
But the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
The Lord furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.
Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
“If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign.
But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”
Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” – Exodus 4:1-10 NASB
Moses Tries to Get Out of His Mission from God – But I Can’t Do It Lord!
Let’s Talk about Worry
An old saying goes:
“Dreading a task is almost always worst than doing it.“
Moses was caught up in the trap we all sometimes fall into – looking at what might happen in the future.
Not that this is always a bad thing.
Situations in our lives should be thought out in advance so that we don’t get into trouble down the road. But, when it comes to God, rationality doesn’t always come into play.
“and I, even I, will be with your mouth” – NASB
When God asks us to do something for him, He does not ask us to go it alone.
To do his work, we will be given direction, the tools we need — and the people who will become involved to make it happen.
God will get his way, no matter if we do the task or someone else takes the reins.
Excuses
Moses thought up every excuse he could fathom to get out of doing something he was uncomfortable doing.
God showed him that everything would be provided – even a voice to speak for him in the form of Aaron.
Moses didn’t know at the time, but the plan was put into action, the action would turn into the great Exodus from Egypt, and Moses would be recorded as one of the greatest people in the Old Testament section of the Bible.
Using Tools for God – Faith
God turned Moses’ staff into a mighty tool to use when he presented the plan to Egypt. The humble staff became a “rod of God“!
God can use anything “simple” to do mighty works if we only have a little faith in his abilities.
I can understand how Moses felt. I have this same problem of trusting completely what God can do.
But, sometimes we just have to let go and let God work through us.
Are You Using Your Spiritual Gifts?
We may not have a “magic” rod to work miracles but we have other tools God can use.
You may have a gift of gab. You might have talents such as playing a musical instrument, singing, abilities to write, the gift of encouraging others.
Well, you know what talents or spiritual gifts you have.
Are you ready to use them for God today? Moses had no real talent but God used him in a mighty way. He can use us too!
Love in Christ
– Bob
Find how you can receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to read John 3:16 for more information.