Today’s Bible reading from the Five Day Bible Reading Plan: Exodus 4-6; Galatians 6

Several years ago, a group called The Kingsmen sang a catchy song that I remember it coming on the radio when I was a child in the 1970s. Here’s the chorus of the song:

Excuses, excuses, you’ll hear them every day.
And the Devil he’ll supply them, if the church you stay away.
When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses
So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

Songwriters: Jim Kimberley / William Topley
Excuses lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

This activity is as old as time. As you read through Exodus 3-4, you see that Moses comes up with five types of excuses:

• Who am I? (Exodus 3:11)
• Who are you? (Exodus 3:13)
• What if they don’t believe me? (Exodus 4:1)
• Lord, I can’t talk. (Exodus 4:10)
• Lord, send someone else (Exodus 4:13).

God answered the first three questions, provided for the fourth by sending his brother Aaron to help. The last one “kindled” the anger of the Lord (4:14). Now, it didn’t go well at first. When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh demanding that Pharaoh let God’s people go, Pharaoh did not acknowledge the Lord and made the work harder for God’s people. Moses struggled with God’s work and way, but God would make it clear that He was in the midst of Moses’ work to free His people.

When God calls you to something, do any of those excuses sound familiar? Surrender willingly and gladly! God is at work!

By the way, here’s the song I referred to at the beginning: