03/08/21 PITIFUL EXCUSES and GOD’s PATIENCE and PROVISION #4

Exodus 4:1-5 (ESV) Then Moses answered, “But behold, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE ME or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘THE LORD DID NOT APPEAR TO YOU.’” 2 The LORD said to him, “WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “THROW IT ON THE GROUND.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “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.”

Then Moses said. In a third objection, Moses gave an unworthy response, after the lengthy explanation by God to Moses in 3:14-22. At this point, the hypothetical situation proposed became more objection than reasonable inquiry.

4:2-9 In response to the hypothetical situation of Israel's rejecting God as having appeared to him, Moses was given 3 signs to accredit him as the chosen spokesman and leader. Note the purpose stated: "That they may believe that the Lord... appeared to you" (v. 5). Two of these signs personally involved Moses right then and there—the rod to snake and back, the hand leprous and healed.

“WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?... THROW IT ON THE GROUND”: Only God Himself can take WHATEVER we have, whatever is in OUR hands, and turn it into something godly and powerful! NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION MOSES COULD ENVISION HIMSELF FACING, GOD HAD SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO AUTHENTICATE HIS MAN, AND MOSES WAS NOT TO THINK OTHERWISE. It’s the same for us; we can trust God to support us as we do His work. (adapted from The MacArthur Study Bible)