God calls all of us to obedience, but our first response is often an excuse. We’ve all heard the classic ones: “I forgot,” “I didn’t know,” “Everyone else was doing it,” or “It wasn’t my fault.” These excuses sound harmless, even reasonable, but when used over and over they reveal something deeper. The hard truth is that we don’t only make excuses with people—we make them with God. We say things like “I’ll pray about it” when God has already spoken clearly, or “That’s not my gifting,” or “Someone else would be better.” These sound spiritual, but they often hide reluctance to obey.
In Exodus 4, Moses does exactly this. When God calls him to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses responds with a series of excuses that seem logical and well thought out. He fears rejection, doubts his ability, and feels unqualified for the task. Yet God patiently answers each excuse, showing that obedience is not about Moses’ strength but about God’s power. When Moses worries that the people will not believe him, God demonstrates His power through clear signs, reminding Moses that this mission depends on God, not human credibility. Fear of people loses its grip when we remember who God is and what He can do.
Moses then shifts to another excuse, claiming he is not a good speaker. In simple terms, he feels inadequate. God’s response is direct and even a bit humorous: He reminds Moses that He is the One who created the mouth. If God can speak through a burning bush, He can certainly speak through Moses. God does not deny Moses’ weakness, but He refuses to let that weakness define the outcome. Instead, He promises His presence and help, making it clear that God’s sufficiency outweighs human limitations.
Eventually, Moses says what many of us have felt: “Please send someone else.” At this point, God’s anger burns, not because Moses is weak, but because he is resisting God’s call. Later in the journey, Moses nearly loses his life because of unfinished obedience in his own household. This moment shows that partial obedience is still disobedience. God demands full surrender, not selective faithfulness. Obedience cannot be compartmentalized; it must touch every area of life, including time, relationships, finances, and priorities.
The story ends on a powerful note. When Moses and Aaron finally speak to the elders of Israel and perform the signs God commanded, the people believe. Even though they are still slaves and their circumstances have not yet changed, they bow down and worship. This reveals the true goal of obedience. Obedience leads to worship, and worship can happen even before deliverance arrives. God’s people worship not because everything is fixed, but because they know God has seen them and is at work.
This passage challenges us to examine what is holding us back. Fear of rejection, feelings of inadequacy, love of comfort, or misplaced priorities can all keep us from serving God fully. Yet God calls us forward, just as He called Moses, reminding us that His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness. The ultimate example of obedience is Jesus Himself, who said yes to the Father even when it led to the cross. Because of His obedience, we have life and redemption.
The question, then, is simple but challenging: will we continue making excuses, or will we step forward in obedience? When God calls us to go, the way out is not around the call but through it. On the other side of obedience is worship, joy, and a life lived with purpose under God’s hand.