God clearly had a plan for Moses’ life. He would use Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. But young Moses was too confident in his own abilities. Yet later, after Moses became humbled, he was so focused on his inadequacies that he became paralyzed. As God met him, Moses learned that focusing on himself – whether his strengths or his weaknesses – prevented him from seeing what a great God can do.
Learn to rely on God, not on yourself.
Growing up in Pharaoh’s household, Moses became “powerful in both speech and action” (Acts 7:22). As he saw the injustice his people, the Israelites, endured, he took matters into his own hands.
Exodus 2:11-12 During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.
His crime discovered, he had to flee from Egypt, ending up in the remote wilderness of Midian. Raised in privilege, he settled for the life of a lowly shepherd (Exodus 2:21-22). By acting in his own power and timing, Moses lost his influence and could not help his people.
Moses learned the cost of doing things his way instead of God’s way. But he still hadn’t learned to rely on God. God appeared to Moses and told him it was now time to deliver Israel from slavery (Exodus 3:7-10). But Moses was paralyzed by his failures and weaknesses from embracing God’s plan. Moses had to change his focus from self to God – and what God could do even through him.
Learn to rely on God’s presence.
When God gave Moses the task of delivering Israel, proud Moses might have said, “I can do this. I will take on Pharaoh.”
Exodus 3:11-12 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.
Paralyzed by inadequacy, Moses said, “Who am I to do this task?” God’s reply was, “I doesn’t matter who you are. What matters is who will be with you.” Moses had to learn that he could do the job, not by his own resources, but only because God was with him.
Learn to rely on God’s person.
In his pride, young Moses expected that the “Israelites would realize that God had sent him to deliver them” (Acts 7:25).
Exodus 3:13-15 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
Paralyzed Moses said, “How can I convince the people that you really sent me?” God told Moses exactly how to describe him. God introduced himself as “I am” – the eternal God. But Moses inserted “I” in the place of “I am.” God wanted him – and the Israelites – to see who God was. Moses had to learn that he could do it, but only because of God’s nature and character.
Learn to rely on God’s power.
Proud Moses might have said, “I am powerful. My mother is Pharaoh’s daughter.”
Exodus 4:1-4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
Paralyzed Moses said, “What if they still won’t believe me or listen to me?” So God gave him the power to perform a miraculous sign to convince people. Moses had to learn that the people would believe him, and he could fulfill God’s purpose, but only because of God’s power through him.
Learn to rely on God’s provision.
Proud Moses might have said: “I’ve been educated with all the wisdom and sophistication of the Egyptians.” Acts 7:22 says that young Moses was powerful in speech and action.
Exodus 4:10-12 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Paralyzed Moses said, “I can’t be your spokesman, because I’m not good with words.” God said, “Didn’t I make your mouth? I will instruct you what to say.” Moses had to learn that he could do something difficult because God would provide what he needed.
Learn to rely on God’s perspective.
Proud Moses said, “I’ll do it, and I’ll start by getting rid of this Egyptian.”
Exodus 4:13-15 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?… He is already on his way to meet you…. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.”
Paralyzed Moses said, “I just don’t want to do it.” God responded, “No, you are the one I have chosen! That’s final.” Moses had to learn that God simply knows what is best. God’s plan is always the wisest way.
In the end, Moses did learn to take the focus off himself – off his strengths and his weaknesses. So eventually he moved forward into God’s plan.
Exodus 4:20 Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt.
What made the difference for Moses? He became convinced of God’s ability. Ultimately God is the answer. When Moses saw how great God is, it was no longer a matter of “I can” or “I can’t”, but “God can.”
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Describe a time when you were paralyzed by your own inability to do something, or when you were overly confident in your own ability and never thought about God.
- Why do you think God needs to humble us before we can experience his plans in our lives?
- In what situation are you saying,”I can’t do it” to God? How does Moses’ example speak to you?
- What are some practical ways you can put your focus on the greatness and ability of God, instead of on yourself?
- How do the principles learned from “proud Moses” and “paralyzed Moses” apply to how people come to salvation?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
