---

Exodus | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20-40 |

---

These small group studies of Exodus 4 contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications.  Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.

Exodus 4 Bible Study – Moses Makes Excuses

Outline

I. Moses asks if they will believe him (1)
II. The LORD gives Moses three signs to perform so they will believe (2-9)
III. Moses uses eloquence as an excuse for not going (10)
IV. The LORD assures Moses that He would be with him (11-12)
V. Moses asks God to send someone else (13)
VI. God is angry with Moses, but compassionately provides Aaron as a helper (14-17)
VII. Moses departs for Egypt with Jethro’s blessing and God’s guidance (18-23)
VIII. Zipporah rescues Moses from God’s wrath (24-26)
IX. Aaron and Moses present the message to Israel’s elders (27-31)

I. Moses asks if they will believe him (1)

Discussion Questions

• Is this a reasonable question?
• Was this a real situation Moses was asking about?
• Do you think Moses was sincere in these questions or just wanted to give some excuses for not going?
• What might God say to a person today who is afraid to share the gospel because he is not sure if the person will believe or not?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. They will not believe or listen to me –

Exodus 4:1 – Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”

Moses offers his third (out of five) objection to God’s command to go and lead His people out of Egypt. It’s hard to judge whether this was a reasonable question or not, because it depends on his heart. If he truly wanted to fulfill the mission to the best of his ability and asked a sincere question to better prepare for that mission, great.

But when you look at his whole encounter with God, it appears that Moses moves from one objection to the next to find reasons for not going.

Asking God questions in and of itself is not sinful. Habakkuk sincerely questioned God. Mary and Zachariah are examples of asking similar questions with different motivations. They both asked the angel how they could have children. Gabriel rebuked Zachariah, who was punished for doubting, while he graciously answered Mary. Evidently, Mary asked with sincerity while Zachariah was asking out of disbelief.

Human character often disguises unwillingness to do a task with excessive questioning, especially “what if” questions. Children who repeatedly ask, “Why should I have to do that?” when their parents give them an instruction are often (but not always) disguising disobedience with a question.

At some point, if you really want to obey, you will stop asking questions and just say, “Yes, sir.”

Reflect – Do you often question God? Are you willing to accept His answers?

2. A hypothetical situation –

Moses was asking about a hypothetical situation that may or may not occur. There are an infinite number of hypothetical possibilities that could arise, and therefore it is not necessary to ask about every one. It should be enough to know that God told him to do it, and therefore God would also make it possible to be achieved.

God does not always show us what will happen far down the path He instructs us to walk on, but He will show us what we need to take the next step.

Psalms 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Application – Instead of fixating on a distant point way down the path, let’s focus on obeying God in the next step we take.

II. The LORD gives Moses three signs to perform so they will believe (2-9)

Discussion Questions

• Was God upset with Moses for asking so many questions?
• What can we learn about God’s character from His responses?
• What did Moses’ response to the serpent miracle indicate about the miracle itself?
• What was the purpose of these signs?
• What does this show about the significance of miracles?
• Why do you think God gave three different signs? Why not give several more in case people still didn’t believe?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. God was patient with Moses –

He takes his objections one by one and completely demolishes them by offering the perfect solution for every one of Moses’ scenarios. He answers with such authority, purpose, and clarity that it closes each issue and leaves no room for further questioning on it without demonstrating a clear lack of faith, if not rebellion.

Reflect – How has God demonstrated patience with you?

God is also patient with us. At any time, He would be perfectly justified in saying, “I have had enough of this. I’m not going to deal with this anymore.” But He doesn’t. He understands that we are weak and sinful. Instead of wiping us out, He tolerates us and encourages us at every possible turn.

Jonah, Peter, Moses, David, and Paul are all examples of God’s patience. He seeks to help us grow, desiring to mold our character to be more like Christ.

Psalms 86:15 – But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

2. God gave signs to prove Himself –

Exodus 4:2-3 – The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.

God’s solution to the possibility of unbelief was to head off any grumbling or disbelief at the very beginning. From the first meeting with the elders, Moses would do miracles to convince everyone he had seen God and was His messenger. This would give Moses immense credibility with the people.

God desires us to have faith. Yet He doesn’t ask us to have a blind faith. Instead, He gives us many strong reasons to believe in Him and His word.

Even in the New Testament, God deals with us in the same way. Jesus presented Himself alive to the disciples “with many proofs” (Acts 1:3).

After His resurrection, Jesus didn’t just send an angel with the message, “Just believe,” or “You don’t need any evidence.” He appeared “by many proofs.”

Some people may think it is spiritual to say, “I don’t need any evidence. I just believe.” God does not ask us to abandon reason.

He encourages them to look at the facts, the miracles, the evidence, and to weigh all of it in making a decision.

Do not fall into the world’s trap of thinking that Christians have a weaker position. We don’t. There is every reason to believe God exists and Jesus is His Son.

Application – It is good for us to look at the facts. If someone asks you, “Why do you believe in God?” could you answer? If they ask you, “Why do you believe the Bible is true?” could you answer?

Perhaps when you were growing up, your mom told you, “God gave you a brain; use it.” That is true. God gave us a mind and He wants us to use it. We are commanded to defend the faith.

1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

We should be prepared to defend our faith with evidence.

3. Miracles are a means to an end –

These miracles were so that, “they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” – Exodus 4:4

The purpose of miracles is to show people that the message being given is from God. The miracle itself is not the end. It is a means to an end. What is the end? It is the means to the end of convincing someone to believe.

One example of that is when Jesus refused to do miracles for Herod (Luke 23:8-9). Herod just wanted to see something impressive. He wasn’t interested in Jesus’ message.

God doesn’t cheapen His miracles by performing them for entertainment value. Neither are they miracles on demand. He doesn’t do them on demand because often the person demanding a miracle wouldn’t believe it and therefore it would be a waste.

Application – If He does miracles, appreciate them, but do not seek for or exalt the miracle. God should be the object of your worship and focus, not miracles.

4. He gave three miracles for Moses to perform –

• The staff turned into a snake (4:4)
• The leprous hand (4:6-7)
• Water to blood (4:9)

Why? Doing three different miracles would be enough evidence to convince any reasonable mind. God Himself said if they didn’t believe the first, then they may believe the second, and if they didn’t believe either, maybe the third would convince them.

In the law, it is said that two or three witnesses are necessary to get a conviction. So God goes with the high end of this to be on the safe side. There is no reason to give more than three because if the Jews didn’t believe the first three, they would not accept the later ones either. This shows God will not just do endless miracles to convince someone, reminding us yet again that He doesn’t do miracles on demand.

5. Moses was scared of this snake –

Exodus 4:3 – So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.

Moses’ fear attests to the sign’s genuineness. If it were some sort of trick, then Moses wouldn’t be scared. It also shows us the snake was not some little, cute snake. It was more likely vicious and dangerous.

7. The leprosy miracle demonstrated both God’s power to heal and to destroy.

8. The water miracle demonstrated God’s power over the lifeline of the Egyptian economy.

III. Moses uses eloquence as an excuse for not going (10)

Discussion Questions

• What is Moses’ next objection (10)?
• Was this reasonable?
• Why or why not?
• What did this objection indicate about his confidence in taking the mission and also about his opinion of God choosing to do it?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Moses offers the “slow of speech” excuse –

Exodus 4:10 – But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

Slow speech simply means not being eloquent. He claimed not to be a natural speaker. It does not necessarily mean that he had a speech impediment.

This objection failed to take into account that God knows everything. God would not give Moses a mission too difficult for him to accomplish. God knows every hair of our heads and knows intimately everything we need.

Luke 12:7 – Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

If God didn’t think Moses was capable, He wouldn’t have commanded him to do it. Moses displayed a lack of faith and a not-so-tactful criticism of God’s plan. He should have replied like Isaiah, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” (Isaiah 6)

Reflect – What are some “reasons” you have for not serving God in certain ways?

IV. The LORD assures Moses that He would be with him (11-12)

Discussion Questions

• Did God accept this objection?
• Why not?
• What was God’s solution to this excuse?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. God answers Moses’ objection –

Exodus 4:11 – Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

Once again, God answers Moses’ objection with the best possible argument. He points out that He was the one who created Moses. He created his speaking ability or lack of it. He made him just like he was. If he needed to be any different, He would have made him differently. God is all-knowing and all-powerful.

2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.

Luke 12:12 – For the Holy Spirit will be with you and teach you what you are to say.

Application – God also made us exactly as He intended. He didn’t make any mistakes with our personalities or our talents, strengths, or weaknesses. Indeed, all things are possible for us because God gives us strength.

Matthew 17:20 – He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

This has far-reaching applications. For example, a person cannot claim he is sinning because it is in his DNA and he can’t help it. No one is an alcoholic because of his DNA. No one is violent because of his DNA. No one is a homosexual because of his DNA.

While our genes or family background may cause us to be more susceptible to a certain sin, there is always a way of escape. No course of action that dishonors God is fate. We always have a choice.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Some claim they can’t escape a sin because of their background or upbringing. These are lies from Satan used to keep people in the grip of sin. Others may refuse to obey certain of God’s commands because they view themselves as unable to keep them. If God gives you a mission, He makes it possible for you to complete that mission

3. I will be with your mouth –

Exodus 4:12 – Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

God reiterated his command to Moses. We should not mistake God’s patience with Moses with compromise.

When Jonah refused to obey God and go to Nineveh, God got compassionately kept him alive even when Jonah wanted to die. Yet God did not change His command to Jonah, telling him again to “go to Nineveh.”

God wasn’t giving a suggestion or an idea. He was commanding Moses to do this. God doesn’t change His standards just because we may disagree with them or prefer to do something else.

At the same time, He assured Moses that He would be with him. Moses was not alone.

Application – No matter what difficulty you are facing, remember that God is with you.

V. Moses asks God to send someone else (13)

Discussion Questions

• What was Moses’ final objection?
• What is he actually saying here?
• Is it reasonable to choose not to accept this mission?
• Why or why not?
• Can you think of any modern-day parallels to God’s command and Moses’ excuses?
• What examples can you give where people offer excuses for not doing what they know God wants them to do?
• Have you ever been on the excuse-making (perhaps in the form of endless questioning) side?
• What do you think God would say to these people?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Moses politely refuses to go –

Exodus 4:13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Moses finally, as politely as he can, refuses to go on the mission and requests that God choose somebody else. After hearing what God had to say, as well as seeing the miracles vindicate it, Moses was still unwilling to go. Why? It wasn’t that he was unwilling to see them saved from Egypt. I think he did want to see them saved. He had already attempted to help them forty years before.

He just wanted someone else to do it. He didn’t want to get involved himself. After all, he was settled into life in Midian. He probably felt comfortable there. He hadn’t seen his countrymen for a long time, so didn’t feel as close a connection to them anymore.

Moses was content to remain neutral or perhaps a passive supporter and leave the hard work of change to others.

Are we different? Do we jump in to become workers in God’s kingdom?

Matthew 9:37-38 – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

The task is huge but there are few workers. Many times, people today also politely decline to do their part in the work that God has for the church. Many are content to be passive observers. That is why just a small percentage of people in the church do almost all of the work.

God did not save you to sit on the sidelines. Every believer is given a spiritual gift to use it for building up the body. Every believer is to be a worker. Every believer is to share the gospel. We should have the attitude of Isaiah. Instead of “Please Lord, send somebody else,” we should be, “Choose me! Send me!” We should be delighted to take part in God’s work.

Application – How can you be a worker in God’s kingdom this week?

It is easy to look at Moses and say that he shouldn’t make excuses. But do we also make excuses?

Here are some just in regards to sharing the gospel.

• I am too busy.
• I don’t know enough of the Bible yet.
• I can’t answer all of their questions.
• I am not good at speaking.
• I don’t know what to say.
• I am an introvert.
• I don’t have the gift.
• People don’t like to listen to me.
• I will do it later.
• I don’t want to offend anyone.
• I’m scared.

Reflect – What reason do you give for not sharing with others?

VI. God is angry with Moses, but compassionately provides Aaron as a helper (14-17)

Discussion Questions

• Was God upset yet?
• But instead of wiping Moses out, what did He do?
• What does this show us about God’s character?
• If God is perfect, how then could He be angry?
• What was His solution?
• What would Aaron’s role be?
• What would Moses’ role be?
• Why does it say that Moses would be like God to Aaron?
• What does this tell us about how we should accept God’s messengers and His Word?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. God did finally get angry with Moses –

Exodus 4:14 – Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses…

The fact that He didn’t get angry sooner shows His great patience. Keep in mind that being angry is not a sin. The Bible records several instances where God is angry. God is angry toward sin, and Moses was exhibiting the sin of disobedience here (slow obedience is disobedience). This should remind us that God takes sin seriously. Disobeying God is perilous.

In the Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis wrote about Aslan (who represents Jesus), “He is a good lion, but he is not a tame lion.”

Although God was angry (demonstrating His righteous and holy character), He was also compassionate.

Exodus 34:6 – The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Reflect – How does He show compassion to Moses?

He didn’t execute Moses for insubordination, but rather offered yet another assurance. This time He offered to send along Aaron, who was an eloquent speaker. God condescends to us to make allowances for our shortcomings.

3. Aaron would be the spokesperson –

Exodus 4:14-15 – Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.

Moses will be the leader, the intermediary between God and Aaron and the Israelites. Even the most visibly prominent believers serve as part of a team. Moses got closer to God than any other human since Adam. Even he would be part of the team.

God designed us to be part of a team and community.

4. Moses would be God to Aaron –

Exodus 4:16 – He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.

This means that Aaron was to listen to Moses just as if Moses were God Himself. Why? Because Moses was representing God’s exact message and commands, so it was as if God was speaking. We are to submit to God’s Word no matter what medium it comes to us in.

If the person sharing truth with us is a 7-year-old kid, we should listen. The messenger is not more important than the message. The word of God is not greater when it comes from the mouth of a “great” preacher and it is not less when it comes from the mouth of someone unknown.

At the same time, we don’t need to be afraid to present the Word to others. As long as we are simply repeating what God has already said, we have His authority to speak.

VII. Moses departs for Egypt with Jethro’s blessing and God’s guidance (18-23)

Discussion Questions

• Why did Moses ask Jethro’s blessing to leave?
• What does this show us about how we are to treat elders?
• What do you think Moses would have done if Jethro said no?
• Who else gave their blessing for Moses to go?
• Why might Moses not perform all the miracles God gave him the ability to?
• Why would God harden Pharaoh’s heart?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. Moses asked Jethro’s permission to leave –

He asked as a sign of respect to the head of the household. If Jethro refused, Moses would have had to obey God first rather than man, but it doesn’t mean that Moses should disrespect earthly authorities. We would do well to honor and respect those in command.

2. God confirmed to Moses that it was time to go –

Exodus 4:19 – And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”

3. Moses stopped objecting to the mission –

While the interchange with God doesn’t tell us Moses’ final words with God, we see that God’s last answer left him speechless and without more excuses.

Exodus 4:20 – So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt.

He admirably made the decision to obey and embarked on a mission that would change his life, put him and his whole family at peril, and eventually accomplish God’s plan for a nation. If Moses refused to obey, surely God would have raised up another for this task, but Moses would have missed the opportunity to be part of this great plan of God.

4. God warned Moses that it would be no easy task –

Exodus 4:21 – But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

Edison once said inventions are 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. This task would be like that as well. God was preparing Moses to know that this wouldn’t be easy. He would harden Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh wouldn’t let them go for a long time. Later in the book, we will look at more of the reason why God did that.

Also, He reminded Moses to do all of the wonders and miracles which He will enable him to do. This task would need a great amount of resolve and bravery. Wars are not for the faint-hearted. The wonders he would do affected a great number of people adversely, up to and including killing the firstborn of all Egyptians. It wouldn’t be enjoyable, but it was necessary for the freeing of his people.

VIII. Zipporah rescues Moses from God’s wrath (24-26)

Discussion Questions

• Why did God want to put Moses to death?
• What does this show us about God’s character?
• What had Moses done wrong?
• Why was this so serious?
• Who saved Moses? How?
• What does her statement mean?
• What applications can we get from this today?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. God’s righteous character –

Exodus 4:24 – At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.

Moses hadn’t followed the Abrahamic covenant with his own sons. He hadn’t had one or both of them circumcised. This was in direct violation of God’s command in Genesis 17:12 to circumcise their sons on the eighth day. The text doesn’t tell us how God was seeking to kill Moses.

Perhaps Moses was struck with an illness from God, but it could have been any number of things. It was, however, clear to them that it was from God. God made it clear and gave them time to give Moses a chance to repent. Clearly, if God really wanted to execute Moses, he would have done so immediately. We should take this as a warning and a chastening.

Moses would be the leader of Israel, but he was not exempt from following God’s law.

Application – Leaders (or parents) should not think they are above what they teach others to do. God does not lower His standard for leaders. Parents should be careful to practice what they teach their kids. Don’t tell your kids to “Get off the phone” and then spend hours a day scrolling. Your children will say that you say one thing and do another.

2. Purifying Moses-

God likely wanted to purify Moses and his family before this great task. Moses would not be equipped to be a leader of this great movement unless his own house was in order.

A leader should “manage his household well.” (1 Timothy 3:4)

This should be a reminder to all teachers that we should continually examine our own lives and make sure that we are faithfully applying God’s Word to and living for Him.

3. Zipporah, a helper –

Zipporah helped Moses by doing the duty that he, as the father, should have done. Her response shows her disgust at this ritual. Certainly, it would have been a painful thing to have to do this to your own son and inflict that much pain on them, but if it had been done on the eighth day, it wouldn’t have been nearly as painful.

IX. Aaron and Moses present the message to Israel’s elders (27-31)

Discussion Questions

• How did Aaron know where to meet Moses? Where do you think Aaron lived? Why?
• Did the people believe them? Why?
• Why do you think it was so easy for them to believe in this case, but in the New Testament, when Jesus did signs, it was much more difficult for them to believe?
• What does this indicate about people’s nature?

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. God spoke to Aaron and told him to go meet Moses –

Exodus 4:27 – The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.

It appears that at this point, Aaron is not in Egypt, meaning that likely the rest of Moses’ family had escaped at some point. Perhaps Moses had somehow managed to free them or buy their freedom. Or maybe they had managed to escape Egypt on their own. Just as God had prepared Moses, God also prepared Aaron for this task. Two are stronger than one.

2. Moses and Aaron spoke with the elders –

They gathered the elders together, spoke to them, and performed the predetermined signs. The elders believed and worshiped the LORD. It was easy for them to believe because they saw the signs and also because they wanted this to be true. This belief would, at times, prove to be shallow.

Comment – What did you think of this Bible study on Exodus 4? We would love to hear your thoughts. Share below in the comment section.