This week, we began a brand-new series called “I Quit,” where we are looking at areas of our lives that are causing us to be less than what God wants us to be and how to grow in these areas so that we can become fully devoted followers of Christ. The first area that is causing us to be less than God wants for us that we will look at today is excuses. Excuses so often hold us back and stop us from growing in many of the areas in our lives where we want to grow. If we want to be healthier people mentally, physically, emotionally, and, most of all, spiritually, we have to choose to quit making excuses.
What common excuses do people make when it comes to taking necessary steps toward health and growth?
1.What are the most common excuses that you make, and how have those excuses impacted you?
2. Read Exodus 3:1-10. What did God call Moses to do in this passage of Scripture? Why do you think he was tempted to make excuses?
Exodus 3:1-10
One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
3. Read Exodus 3:11-15 and Exodus 4:1-17. What kind of excuses did Moses make to God?
Exodus 3:11-15
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh,the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.
Exodus 4:1-17
But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.4 Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.5 “Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.”6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease.[a] 7 “Now put your hand back into your cloak,” the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. 8 The Lord said to Moses, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign. 9 And if they don’t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground.” 10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” 11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”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. 15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 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. 17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”
4.How did God respond to Moses’ excuses?
Application
1. What command has God given you that you have been making excuses to avoid?
2. What type of excuses have you been making when it comes to the command that God has given you?
3. How does God’s response to Moses give you confidence and hope to quit making excuses and obey?
Now that you have shared what God has been calling you to do that you have been avoiding, take a moment to think about one step you can take today toward obedience. Share that step with your group and commit to obeying Him.
Moses focused on himself and his own strength when God gave him a difficult command. God's responses to him continually pointed him back to who God is and His power. We often need the same reminder when facing challenging assignments that we are not dependent on ourselves. Instead of looking to ourselves, we must look to God. Let's take a deep dive into three attributes of God that should give us strength and confidence as we set out to obey Him, even when He gives us difficult assignments.
Throughout Scripture, God promises His presence. He is with us every day and with every step of the way. This, my friends, makes all the difference. Let’s take a few moments now to read about God’s promise of His presence in Scripture:
1. Read Isaiah 43:2-3a.
Isaiah 43:2-3a
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
2. Summarize God’s message to His people in this verse.
3. What is the impact of God’s presence in our lives?
4. How does the promise of God’s presence help you to quit making excuses?
Not only is God with us, but God is also all-powerful. There is none more powerful than Him. His power should give each one of us confidence as we set out to follow Him, knowing the all-powerful God is with us. There is nothing He cannot do. Look at what Scripture teaches about God's great power.
1. Read Job 26:7-14.
Job 26:7-14
God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight. 9 He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds. 10 He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night. 11 The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke. 12 By his power the sea grew calm. By his skill he crushed the great sea monster. 13 His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent. 14 These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?
2. Describe the scope of God's power, which Job describes in these verses.
3. What is the impact of God’s power in our lives?
4. How does the knowledge of God’s great power help you as you think about quitting making excuses?
Scripture makes it clear that God knows everything, including His plans for the future. While none of us know the future, we can be confident that God does. He knows what is to come, and He can be trusted. Turn to Scripture now to read more about God and His infinite knowledge.
1. Read Psalm 147:5.
Psalm 147:5
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!
2. What does this verse reveal about God’s knowledge?
3. What is the impact of God’s absolute knowledge in our lives?
4. How does the understanding of God’s infinite knowledge help you as you think about quitting making excuses?
Which one of the attributes of God particularly encourages you? Why? How does this attribute of God give you confidence as you think about the command that He is calling you to do? Share your answers to these questions with your group. Commit to memorizing the Scripture related to your chosen attribute over the next week and bring it to mind often, especially when you are tempted to make excuses.
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