Choices – Choosing To Find Excuses

By Andrew Williams – September 7, 2021

Today we continue to look at some choices that were made in the Bible. To choose means: “to select freely and after consideration, to have a preference for, or to take an alternative”. The question that we always have to answer is this, ” When I am faced with a choice, what will I choose to do?”

Today we will look at the call of Moses by God as the one who will lead the children of Israel out from under Egyptian bondage. The story is found in Exodus 3 and 4. I will only look at the responses of Moses to what God says to him. I encourage you to read both chapters to see the complete encounter. In them, you will see Moses called by God, told what to do, showed how to perform miraculous signs, and given the assurance that God Himself would be with him. Let us hear Moses’ responses.


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

Then Moses asked God, “If 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? ’ what should I tell them? ” Exodus 3:13 HCSB

Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’? ” Exodus 4:1 HCSB

But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent — either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant — because I am slow and hesitant in speech.” Exodus 4:10 HCSB

We see Moses questioning God in a way that is suggesting that he doesn’t want to do what God is telling him to do! Don’t we mostly behave like Moses when we don’t want to obey when God calls us to ministry, service, witness, or help others? Listen to God’s response to Moses.

Yahweh said to him, “Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:11‭-‬12 HCSB

Now go! This is God COMMANDING Moses to go and do what God says. Moses’ response is like many of ours to God’s call on our lives.
Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” Exodus 4:13 HCSB

When I am faced with a choice of accepting God’s call on my life, what will I choose to do?” Will I be like Moses who tries to find excuses to avoid that ministry calling, or will I wholeheartedly submit to God?

All of us have been called to go and make disciples. Have you answered that call, or have you been making excuses as to why you cannot? I ask You now, what is your choice?!

Prayer: Moses, Moses! Or whatever your name is, has God called you? Yes, He has! What is your response?
Father God, like Moses we sometimes have questions, but Lord please help us not to use those questions as a means to avoid following your commands. We are scared at times, but You are always with us. Help us to redirect our focus back to You Lord, and not focus on our insecurities and inadequacies, because You will be with us to accomplish what You direct us to do.

Father God, right here, right now I surrender and submit fully to You and I choose wholeheartedly to obediently do the ministry/service/things You have called me to do. Use me mightily I pray in Jesus’ Name, to accomplish Your will, amen.