We’re finishing the last series of 2024. We’re preparing to change into a new year full of hope, fear, and opportunity. Was 2024 the year that you needed? Will 2025 be the year you want? To become who God created us to be requires change. Changing who we interact with, what we engage with, and how we think. Because change is uncomfortable, we often make excuses.

This series has been about a key Israelite who made excuses to God, asking God to give his command to someone else. Yet, God met all these excuses with a love that surpasses understanding, confidence that never wavers, and encouragement that never fades. This series is “Moses, the Imposter.” We’ve dove into Exodus 3:11-4:17 to discuss the excuses that Moses feels he cannot do what God has assigned. My goal for this series has been for you to know that whatever excuse you give to God, God meets it with a compassion that knows no bounds and an encouragement that never ceases.

In Part 4, we discussed Moses’ concern about how easily he gets tongue-tied. We learned that no matter our worries, God created us, and he will use the gifts and talents he built into us to go out and do what he’s asked of us. It might be scary, but God never leaves us. He’s guiding, encouraging, and teaching us along the way.

In Part 5, we’re wrapping this up with Moses’ final plea: “Send anyone else.” Join me in Exodus 4:13-17

Exodus 4:13-17

NASB	NLT	VOICE
13 But he said, “Please Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”	13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”	13 MOSES: Please Lord I beg you to send Your message through someone else, anyone else.
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 overjoyed.	14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.	14 Then the Eternal became angry with Moses. ETERNAL ONE: How about your brother – Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks eloquently. And look, he is already on his way to meet you. When he sees you, his heart will be delighted.
15 So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I Myself will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will instruct you in what you are to do.	15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with you both as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do.	15 I want you to talk to him and put the right words in his mouth. I will guide your mouth and his mouth and instruct you both what you should do.
16 He shall speak for to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.	16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.	16 He will address the people as your spokesman. He will serve as your mouth; and you will instruct him in what he is to say as if you were God to him.
17 And you shall take in your this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”	17 And you take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”	17 Take this staff in your hand, and use it to perform the signs I have shown you.

God got angry with Moses. Let’s name that right now, but it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love him. Think about it this way. When you were a child, and your parent asked you to do something, and you continuously gave excuses as to why you couldn’t/wouldn’t do it, did they get angry at you? Most likely. Did that mean they didn’t love you anymore? Of course not. (At least, I hope that, but I recognize that there might not have been possible in some situations.) Your parents/guardians might have been frustrated, but then they worked with you to create a plan that worked best for you to accomplish the task. God did this for Moses.

God finally agreed to let Aaron speak for Moses. Moses’ feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiousness were so powerful that he couldn’t confidently trust that God could help him. He had to deal with these feelings before and could overcome them at the end of the day. This is an important lesson for us: no matter how inadequate we feel, God will help us be confident in who we are through him. We can easily let our weaknesses and insecurities become our identity. However, God created us as perfect beings, and we find perfection through him. Through the world, we have our flaws, hang-ups, hurts, and habits, but they are washed away through the sacrifice of Jesus. With God, we can find the courage to go before people and have a chat. We can find the confidence to stand out for the marginalized. We can find the faith to trust that we can turn down a job offer that doesn’t make us feel like we’re selling our souls to the devil (that one might be personal, but the sentiment remains.) At the end of the day, we have God. Even God will allow our community to surround us and help. Moses would “stand in the place of God for him.” Moses would be the voice Aaron would share with the community. The job is still getting done. It may look different than the original plan, but God’s plan will always come out.

I hope you enjoyed “Moses, the Impostor.” This series was cooking in my brain for about 3 years, and I’m glad it’s here. The rest of the week will be “Manna for the Mind” devotionals, and then we’ll take a week off for Christmas/New Year’s break. My 2024 Review/2025 Preview blog will come out on New Year’s Day, and our new content for the year will begin on January 6^th. More info on that is in the blog, as mentioned earlier. Until then, stay blessed!

• Associated Scripture
  • Exodus 4:27
• • Exodus 7:1
• • Exodus 14:16
• • Exodus 17:9
• • Exodus 18:19-20
• • Isaiah 51:16