Exodus 4:1-17 Study Guide: Human Inadequacy and the Power of God

Community Group Study Guide — Human Inadequacy and the Power of God
Exodus 4:1-17

Study Information:
As we’ve explored Moses’s story, we’ve learned about the reality of human inadequacy and the power of God. There are many things we can do through our own strength and determination, but following Christ is not about our own power and God reveals to us the end of our strength. This may take the form of seasons of suffering, struggles that are beyond your ability, and even reminders like our inability to change someone else’s heart. For Moses, he had been called to a big leadership task outside of his own strength. God would use Moses as the one who’d deliver his people. This would require courage to stand up to Pharaoh, faith to trust that God would do what God promised and hope that the people of God would listen to him. There was little evidence that any of these things would happen for Moses at the time of his calling. Moses had run from Pharaoh in fear, his own people had rejected him and his faith in God was just beginning. What we learn in Exodus 4:1-17 is that Moses expressed three common human objections and God met each one by reminding Moses of his power. Likewise, we bring similar objections to the way that God often wants to work in us today and need to be reminded of God’s power in our own lives.

Objection 1: No One Will Believe Me
Exodus 4:1-9
God had promised Moses in Exodus 3:18  that the Hebrew elders would listen to him, but Moses’s struggled to trust that and his first objection was “no one will believe me.” The Hebrew text was more forceful than how our english translation reads, it was more of a “yeah right?!” Moses, he had all of his past failures and his running from Egypt to overcome, he was a person with a reputation. Why would God show up and call someone like him? Why call someone who ran away in fear to this big task? 

God responded to this first objection by giving Moses 3 signs that he could do to prove that God was with him. There’s much discussion about what these signs symbolized like transformation, the state of Israel before God, the cleansing power of God, etc. But let’s not miss the main idea with trying to find the nuance of each sign, the main idea is that God can do the miraculous and his power would not be limited with the task ahead. 

The first sign was Moses’s staff turning into a snake, next his hand would become leprous and then be clean when he pulled his hand in and out of his robe, finally turning water from the Nile into blood on the dry ground. The first two signs were able to be tested before departing for Egypt, but the last one would only be something verified when Moses had obeyed God and went back. 

This objection, “no one will believe me” is common for the Christian life, especially when we share the gospel or talk about how God has worked personally in our lives. We are not given special signs from God to point to his miraculous nature and power in the same way Moses received them but it is important to remember that if you’re a Christian that God has worked powerfully in your life and that serves as evidence to share with others. Many of us have been delivered from addictions, sin patterns, abusive backgrounds and others have experienced a growing knowledge of God and have had God answer prayer in real and specific ways. These all serve as things we can share with others when we feel like they will not believe our message. 

Objection 2: I Cannot Speak
Exodus 4:10-12
God answered Moses’s first objection, so Moses responded with what seems like an excuse. Moses replied “I am not eloquent of speech.” This could be the truth, but there is evidence in scripture that this was not the case. First, he was raised in Pharaoh’s palace and likely received advanced education including public speech. Second, he wrote and spoke eloquently with the people of God in the rest of the first five books of the Bible. Likely the book of Deuteronomy was spoken out loud to Israel before they went into the promised land. Finally, Stephen in the book of Acts told us that Moses was powerful in his words and deeds while in Egypt (Acts 7:22). Maybe Moses had a stutter or spoke fast or something else, but at first glance this has the feel of an outright excuse. 

God met him in this objection and reminded Moses that he would be with him and that he was the God of all creation. God made his mouth and will give him the words to speak and teach him what to say. Followers of Jesus today have the added benefit of the Holy Spirit who will guide us into truth and teach us what to say when we’re in situations where we need to defend our faith. Likewise, we are unable to change anyone else’s heart even if we had perfect words, we need God to work and God often loves to work through our weaknesses to show his power. 

Objection 3: Send Someone Else
Exodus 4:13-17
Finally, Moses shared what was really on his heart to God, “send someone else!” It was at this point that God expressed anger but notice that even in his anger, God provided for Moses with someone else to be with him on this mission. Moses’s own brother Aaron would join Moses and God would use the two of them to confront Pharaoh. This was the first mention of Aaron, later we learn that Aaron was three years older than Moses, so likely born before Pharaoh’s edict to kill the Hebrew boys (Exodus 7:7). 

We can often feel overwhelmed by the calling of God on our lives as we follow Jesus and wish that God sent someone else on the specific task we’re called to. It is important to remember that God supplies for his people when they are weak and that we are not alone. Moses’s honesty to God is commendable and likewise we see God’s patience and provision of his power in things like providentially working in Aaron’s own life, separate from Moses, to have Aaron come out and meet Moses and be part of this calling to confront Pharaoh. 

The Christian life will always be a call to trust in Jesus. God brought Moses to a place where he’d need to decide if he actually trusted God’s call. Jesus told his disciples to count the cost of following him and that it would be difficult but that by following Christ they’d find their life. Who do you trust? God reminds his people of his power when they have objections and excuses and desperately ask God to send someone else.

At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:
Read Exodus 4:1-17

What were Moses’s objections to God’s call? 

How did God respond to each of the objections with some provision of his power? What do we learn about God throughout this interaction?

This will not be the last time Moses struggled with God’s call on his life but once Moses decided to follow God and return to Egypt we see a growing change his confidence. What kind of advice would you give someone who was experiencing weakness or struggling with doubt based on passages like this one?

What objections and excuses do you feel like pop up in your own life when faced with a difficult task as a Christian?