Exodus 4:13 - Homilies By J. Orr

A servant's difficulties.

Observe—

I. WHAT THEY WERE . Moses' difficulties resolved themselves into three.

1 . The power of Pharaoh. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" ( Exodus 3:10 ). We may be staggered by the thought of the powers that are arrayed against us.

2 . The anticipated unbelief of the people ( Exodus 4:1 ). The preacher has to encounter hard and unbelieving hearts, and this may enfeeble and dishearten him.

3 . His lack of gifts ( Exodus 4:10 ). Humble natures are easily discouraged by the sense of their own short-comings—by the consciousness of ignorance, defective education, lack of gifts of speech, etc.

II. HOW THEY WERE MET .

1 . God armed Moses with powers that made him more than a match for the mighty king of Egypt.

2 . He gave him the means of overcoming the unbelief of the people.

3 . He promised to endow him with power of speech; and, when that was rejected, supplied his defect by giving him a coadjutor.

From which learn:—

1 . That while it is right to state our difficulties to God—to pour out all our hearts before him—it is wrong to make them an excuse for shrinking from duty.

2 . That God, if relied on, will give us all sufficiency.— J . O .