Exodus 4: A Reluctant Deliverer — A Resolute God Pt 12
God’s Forbearance Toward Reluctant Servants
(Exodus 4:13-17)
--
13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
--
14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
--
15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.
--
16 “Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.
--
17 “You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”
--
Excuses Often Reveal Hearts Unwilling to Trust God
(Exodus 4:13)
“But he said, ‘Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever Thou wilt.’”
(“Send someone else — anyone You want!”)
* ++This is Moses’ fifth objection
* ++The mask comes off: This is no longer fear or humility
* ++This is audacious resistance to God Himself
* ++God said “Go.” Moses said “Send someone else.”
--
Excuses often sound reasonable while hiding unbelief underneath. The real issue is unwillingness to trust and obey God.
--
God’s Anger Burns Against Rebellion (vv. 14a)
“Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses…”
* ++God is furious with open rebellion
* ++“The nostrils of the LORD burned” - holy anger
* ++God would have been perfectly just to judge Moses immediately
* ++Rebellion is never small because the One being resisted is never small.
* ++Every act of disobedience is ultimately vertical - an assault on God’s authority.
--
God Demonstrates Astonishing
Forbearance Toward Moses (vv. 14b–17)
God’s response: “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite?…”
* ++Though angry, God restrains His wrath
* ++Instead of casting Moses aside, God bears with him
* ++God already knew Aaron’s location, speech, heart, and timing
* ++God appoints Aaron to help but does not replace Moses or transfer the staff
--
Forbearance = wrath restrained.
++Even in rebellion, God continues to work with His reluctant servant.
--
God Calls His Children to Reflect
That Same Forbearance. (Ephesians 4:1–2)
“Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love.”
* ++The same forbearance God showed Moses, He now commands us to show others
* ++Forbearance is love under pressure — bearing the weight of others’ weaknesses, faults, and offenses without immediately retaliating
* ++This is agape love — supernatural, not natural
--
Summary & Application
* ++Moses resisted, excused, delayed, argued, and rebelled
* ++Yet God bore with him
--
Questions to Ponder
++How quickly do you retaliate when offended?
++How quickly do you grow bitter, withdraw, expose, or attack?
++Or do you reflect the patience of your heavenly Father?
--