Moses’ Objections

Moses had a hard time accepting the call to serve as God’s prophet. In the account of his conversation with God at the burning bush, he objects in five different ways. Later, he raises a sixth objection to the calling. Let’s look at each of these objections in turn, together with God’s response to each of them, in order to learn principles we can apply as we accept callings from God.

1. “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Moses’ first objection is simply a general statement of inadequacy. Just before, he had responded to God’s call by saying, “Here am I” (Exodus 3:4). Now, he says, “Who am I?” It’s easy to feel that we aren’t special, to wonder why God would choose us to do something important. God responds to this objection with reassurance: “I will be with thee” (Exodus 3:12).
2. “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13). Moses here identifies a reason for his sense of inadequacy: He doesn’t feel prepared. He doesn’t think he’s knowledgeable enough. How can he respond to the questions he is sure to face? God responds by teaching him how to address that question (Exodus 3:14-18).
3. “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” (Exodus 4:1). This objection is similar to the concern raised by Moroni: “The Gentiles will mock at these things” (Ether 12:23, 25). It is the fear of rejection. God responds to Moses by giving him two signs—turning a staff into a serpent, and turning water into blood—which he can show to win them over (Exodus 4:2-9).
4. “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10). Moses now turns to a specific deficiency, which he thinks will disqualify him. How can a poor public speaker function as a prophet? God responds firmly, “Who hath made man’s mouth? … I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:11-12).
5. “O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send” (Exodus 4:13). Now comes the comparison. There must be someone better qualified than I! The objection sounds humble but is actually presumptuous. He’s telling God that He has made the wrong choice, that He should have chosen someone else. This comment arouses God’s anger, but He doesn’t lash back. Instead, He offers help. He offers to call Aaron to serve as Moses’ spokesperson (Exodus 4:14-17).
6. “Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all” (Exodus 5:22-23). After their first setback (which God had actually foretold: see Exodus 3:19), Moses is frustrated. Why did you send me here, he asks, if I was just going to fail? God responds by reassuring Moses that he will be successful and inviting him to take the next step (Exodus 6:1-13).

Generations earlier, Joseph had prophesied that a prophet named Moses would liberate his people. Interestingly, in Joseph’s prophecy, he acknowledges Moses’ limitations even as he affirms that Moses would do God’s work:

The Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.

2 Nephi 3:17

Referencing Moses and other ancient prophets, President Russell M. Nelson testified, “The Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible” (“The Lord Uses the Unlikely to Accomplish the Impossible,” Brigham Young University—Idaho Devotional, 26 January 2015).

Today, I will trust God enough to fulfill the callings I receive from Him. I will overcome my natural sense of inadequacy, my fear of rejection, and my awareness of my shortcomings. Instead of asking, “Who am I?” I will state with confidence, “Here am I.”