Moses was not perfect. We briefly note four instances of failure.
The untimely action. Moses ‘smote the Egyptian; for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them’, Acts 7. 24-25. Although well-intentioned, he was 40 years too early. God had His own timetable; the date of the Exodus was predetermined, Exod. 12. 41. Moses’ attempted deliverance was premature and therefore doomed to failure.
The unwilling heart. Having failed forty years before because he had gone when he had not been sent, Moses was reluctant to go when he was sent. He voiced five objections: (i) ‘Who am I that I … ?’ ‘I am unworthy; I lack the required status.’ (ii) ‘What shall I say … ?’ ‘I am ignorant; I lack the essential knowledge.’ (iii) ‘They will not believe me’. ‘I am afraid of rejection; I lack any expectation of success’. (iv) ‘I am not eloquent’. ‘I am unable to speak fluently; I lack the necessary ability’. (v) ‘Send … by the hand of him whom thou wilt send’. ‘To be honest, I just don’t want to go! I lack any desire or enthusiasm for the task’. The Lord was angry at Moses’ refusal to trust His enabling.
The unfit condition. It seems that, bowing to pressure from Zipporah, Moses had failed to circumcise his son. Yet he embarked on the Lord’s service as if this was matter of indifference. He soon learnt otherwise and almost paid with his life for his error. Through Moses, God was about to act in accordance with His covenant with Abraham; He would not tolerate, therefore, His servant omitting the ‘token’ (sign) of that covenant, Gen. 17. 3-14. Moses was taught at the outset how seriously God views inconsistent behaviour in His servants.
The unguarded lips. Shortly before Moses would have enjoyed a happy conclusion to his mission, exasperated by Israel’s latest gripe, he flagrantly disobeyed God. The Lord condemned him for his rebellion and unbelief, withheld from him the privilege of leading the people into Canaan, and later forbade him ever to raise the matter with Him again, Deut. 3. 23-26. The people ‘provoked his spirit … he spake unadvisedly with his lips’.
Lord, give me the desire and the ability to serve acceptably.
