Have you ever read some of the actual excuses people have given after being pulled over by the police: “Oh, I thought the sign I-95 meant the speed limit. Glad you didn’t catch me on State Route 210 earlier!”
One police officer said: “I stopped a guy for doing 71 mph in a 50 mph zone because he wanted to get to McDonald’s before the breakfast menu ended.”
Or how about this one: “I stopped a guy for going 54 mph in a 45 mph zone. He told me that his dyslexia was acting up again.”
When God called Moses to go to Pharaoh and to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses offered God a series of excuses concerning why he could not do what God called him to do. Moses’ first excuse: “I am not qualified.” We read this in Exodus 3:11, “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’”
Who am I? Why did Moses say this? Maybe Moses called to mind his past failure when he had to flee from Egypt 40 years before. Maybe Moses thought about his age; he was 80-years-old when God called him to set the Israelites free. Maybe Moses thought that the task was too great: “How could I possibly persuade the most powerful ruler in the world to release all of his slaves?”
We constantly hear excuses from members of the church that are a version of Moses’ excuse, “I am damaged goods.” “I can’t do that; I’m divorced.” “I’ve got issues.” “My family is not perfect.” “I failed at another assignment.” “I’m too old.” “I’m retired.” “I’m too young.”
But consider the people who God called in the Bible. They’re all damaged goods. Many of them are people that you and I probably wouldn’t select. Father Abraham? He lied repeatedly regarding his relationship with Sarah, to save his own skin. Yet, Abraham became known as a friend of God and the father of all who have faith. Jacob? He was a manipulator and a cheat. Yet, God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel,” and he became an overcomer. Rahab? She was a prostitute. And yet, her faith became a model for us New Testament believers. Some people, such as Jonah in the Old Testament and John Mark in the New Testament, had dropped out of ministry. They were quitters. Yet, God used them and restored them to their callings.
What is God’s response to our excuse of not being qualified? Here is what God said to Moses in Exodus 3:12, “I will be with you.” In other words, it is not who we are. What matters in God’s calling us is who God is. God said, “I will be with you.” This is God’s answer for every task he calls us to. For example, after Jesus announces his Great Commission to us, to send each of us out into the world to make disciples of every nation, our natural reaction is, “How?” How can my Muslim neighbor, or my Jewish neighbor, or my friend who had such a horrible experience of church, or my agnostic relative ever become a follower of Jesus? In other words, with me being who I am, Lord, and the world being what it is, how can we possibly fulfill your calling to make disciples of every nation?
Jesus responds to us the way God responded to Moses. Here is what Jesus said: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Fulfilling God’s call is never simply a matter of who we are. Rather, it is a matter of growing in our faith regarding who God is.
Related to Moses’ first excuse is another excuse regarding why he could not possibly lead the children of Israel out from Egypt. Moses essentially said, “I am not gifted.” In Exodus 4:10 we read: “Moses said to the LORD, ‘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.’” We often think that if we had the abilities that so-and-so does, then we would be able to do what God’s calling us to do: to lead a small group, to work with refugees, to mentor abortion-vulnerable women, to work with teens, etc.
What is God’s response to Moses’ claim to a lack of gifting? Exodus 4:11–12, “The LORD said to him, ‘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.’”
God doesn’t say to Moses: “Moses, you really are up to the task. Stop getting down on yourself! Moses, you need to work on your self-esteem!” Rather, God, in essence, says: “Moses, I knew when I called you that you weren’t up to the task.” That’s what God constantly says to you and me. He says: “I knew you were not up to the task that I called you to. I knew you weren’t adequate. I knew you didn’t have all the necessary gifts. That’s why you need to constantly look to me and be dependent upon me and cry out for my help.”
Every one of Moses’ and our excuses begins with the word “I.” I’m not qualified. I don’t have all the answers. I am not gifted. I am too busy. I am damaged goods. I…I…I…I. The response that God always gives us is this: “Stop looking at yourself! Look at me! You can’t fulfill my calling on your own, but with my help you will succeed!”
Our response to God’s call to any particular task ought to be, “Father, I can’t do this on my own. But you can accomplish this task through me. You can change this situation. You can heal. You can save. Therefore, I will obey your calling!”