The Objections Made to Religious Service
Exodus 4:10-13
And Moses said to the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since you have spoken to your servant…


I. THESE OBJECTIONS WERE MADE AFTER GOD HAD GIVEN HIM A FULL INSIGHT INTO THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE REQUIRED.

1. The insight given into the nature of this service was infallible.

2. It was forceful.

3. It was sympathetic.

II. THESE OBJECTIONS FREQUENTLY ARISE FROM AN UNDUE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SELF.

1. From a consciousness of natural infirmity. This ought to inspire within them a more thorough determination to seek Divine help. Silence is often more eloquent and valuable than speech.

2. From a supposition of moral incapacity. The call of God is calculated to educate all the sublime tendencies of the soul, and renders men fit for the toil allotted to them.

3. That, rather than self, God must be the supreme idea of the soul when about to enter upon religious service. Our hearts should be a temple in which every act of service should be rendered to the infinite.

III. THESE OBJECTIONS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY REGARD THE EFFICACY OF THE DIVINE HELP THAT IS PROMISED IN THE SERVICE. "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."

1. The Divine help is adapted to our natural infirmity. It is far better to have God joined to our infirmity, than to have the eloquent tongue without Him. Thus there are times when an infirmity may be an inestimable advantage to a Christian worker.

2. The Divine help is adapted to our full requirement. God did not merely promise to aid the speech of Moses, but also to teach him what he should say. So in the Christian service of to-day, good men are not merely aided in the line of their natural infirmity, but also along the entire line of their requirement.

IV. THESE OBJECTIONS ARE A REFLECTION ON THE PROPRIETY OF THE DIVINE SELECTION FOR THE SERVICE. "And the Lord said unto him, who hath made man's mouth," etc.

1. This method of conduct is ungrateful.

2. Irreverent.

V. THESE OBJECTIONS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY RECOGNIZE THE DIGNITY AND HONOUR THE SERVICE WILL COMMAND.

1. There was the honour of achieving the freedom of a vast nation.

2. There was the honour of conquering a tyrant king.

3. There was the honour of becoming the lawgiver of the world.

VI. THESE OBJECTIONS ARE LIABLE TO AWAKEN THE DIVINE DISPLEASURE. "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses."

1. This anger may be manifested in our removal from the service.

2. This anger may be manifested by the positive infliction of penalty.

3. This anger may occasion our eternal moral ruin.Learn:

1. Good men ought to know better than to object to the service of God.

2. That in the service of God men find the highest reward.

3. That in the service of God men attain the truest immortality.

(J. S. Exell, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

WEB: Moses said to Yahweh, "O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue."




The Fourth Difficulty: Moses Alleges Defect of Utterance
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