Hmmm, negotiating with God? Anyone else find themselves doing this too? Creating scenarios in our head for why we can't do something? Looking for the worst possible scenario? God goes on in the next set of verses to again assuage Moses' concerns and remind him exactly who God is and what he can do; including striking against his enemies. God assures us the very same today. Don't create nightmare scenarios in your imagination to dissuade you from what God has called you to do! But Moses still would not think vertically.
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" Exodus 4:1
God gives Moses signs and wonders to perform to Pharaoh to convince him. No matter what reason we can come up with for not following what God wants, He always has the better answer. Realize that God already explained that Moses would deliver the Israelites. Moses is arguing with God for no reason, other than his own insecurities and fears; as we can often do. We can also then turn to our own deficiencies for why we cannot follow God:
Moses said to the LORD, "O 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." Exodus 4:10
I am sure that we too can fall into this pattern of refusing God. We are too slow. We are too old. We are too disabled. But what we forget is that all we have, God has given. All we need, God will provide. And God will not send us somewhere we will not find success if we do it for His glory. Take a close look at the response of God to Moses at this point:
The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Exodus 4: 11-12
Remember, God made you as you are. He has given you exactly what you need to succeed at what He will have you do. Could it be easier some other way? Possibly; but God is not concerned about our convenience, as much as He is our character. Is it not the Lord? He will help you speak! He will teach you what to say and how to say it! He will walk where you cannot! He will bridge the gaps that seem too wide for you to cross! He cannot however, if you refuse to take the first step of faith and trust that the God that has called you is the same who will deliver you.
The Prophet Jeremiah also objected and tried to rationalize with God when he was called. He said that he did not know how to speak and was only a child. Here was the Lord's response:
