Afraid to Try

Forty years before Moses had been totally confident of his ability to deliver Israel.  After forty years of learning how hard it was to lead a herd of sheep. Moses no longer thought he would be able to Lead Israel.  Experience had taught him that he couldn’t always convince the sheep to do what he wanted.  How was he going to convince people to do what he wanted.   He told God he didn’t think he could do it in Exodus 4:10  “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” 

God didn’t accept Moses’ excuse.   He reminded him that it was God who gave him every thing he had including the ability to speak in Exodus 4:11-12.  “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?  Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”  If he just go, God would give him the abilities he needed to get the people to follow him.    

One vewry common mistake today is to think that because a person has certain abilities they would make a good pastor, teacher, missionary, or even a husband or wife.  When God sent Samuel to anoint a new king to take Sausl place, in I Samuel 16:6-7, Samuel made the same mistake.  “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.   But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”  The heart attitude is far more important than talent or physical ability. 

In Paul’s descriptions of the requirements for pastors and deacons in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-16, the emphasis is on the person’s attitudes rather than speaking ability or charisma.  Throughout history, the greatest criminals, con artists and charlatans have also been some of the most eloquent and charismatic leaders.   Without a proper attitude of humility, they will not submit to god or his plans.  Moses had to lose that proud attitude before he could be used effectively by God. 

Understanding that he did not have the abilities to do it himself, Moses made the same mistake many others have made, not trusting God to give him the ability.  This lack of faith angered God, as Exodus 4:13-17 describes.  “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.  And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.  And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.  And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” 

God had called Moses to do the job, and he would not get out of it easily.  I Corinthians 9:17 tells us, “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”  Our hesitation may cost us rewards, but it does not relieve us of responsibility.    Because of his hesitation, God would send Aaron to help him.   While Moses didn’t know it at the time, sharing the leadership with Aaron would be a problem in the future.  Had he simply obeyed he could have avoided some problems later.