“Yes, But” – Sermon 31 August, 2014

“Yes, But”
Ex. 4:1-15, Ex. 5:1-5,10-17
Have you ever carried on a lively debate with God? Have you ever tried to change God’s mind on some matter? Have you argued with God about some issue or circumstance in your life?
Moses’ first step in his journey of discipleship was to do exactly this. He argued with the God of the ages!
Moses quickly became defensive in this extraordinary calling he had received. Moses was convinced he cannot respond. He played the game of “Yes, but” with God. Any time we feel called or obligated to do something we would rather not do, we are tempted to “Yes, but” the person making the request. As we look to the passage read today, we see Moses playing the “Yes, but” game with God. He “Yes, but”ed God at least five times.
1- First, Moses asked a simple question: “But . . . who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (3:11). Probably Moses was simply thinking, “Hey, I am too old for this job. I’ve just gotten my pension check into my bank account! I’m enjoying my Senior Citizen’s discounts. I am not ready for a whole new mission in life.” Moses was about eighty years old when the call of God came. This is hardly the time when we think of a whole new vocation in our lives!
But God simply said, “I will be with you, Moses.” God does not accept Moses’ argument. Neither does God accepted Moses’ age or stage in life. God simply called.
2- Moses suggested a second argument. He asked God for His name.
The name of God was closely intertwined with the nature of God in the ancient mind. Thus, the writer of Psalm 23 says, “He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).
Moses was actually asking how he could offer the perfect nature of God to the Israelites. “If I go, and they ask me about you, what shall I tell them?” seems to be Moses’ question.
The response of the voice from the bush was one of the most mysterious in all of scripture. God said, “I am who I am.” Therefore, Moses was simply to tell the people that the “I am” had sent him.
We see a mystery in the words of God. God preserves His mystery for all time. God was not about to open up the full mystery to Moses in this moment of Moses’ life.
Perhaps God was offering a “name” that is only finally completed in the person of Jesus. The Gospel of John may be a partial unfolding of the mystery of God’s words to Moses in Exodus: Jesus uses various images to suggest Jesus’ identity (John 6:35 – the Bread of Life, 8:12 – the Light of the World, 10:7 – the Gate of the Sheep, 15:1 – the Vine, 10:11- the Good Shepherd, 11:25 – the Resurrection and the Life).
3- Unchanged in his desire for some kind of permanent deferment, Moses raised a third argument. “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’ ” (4:1). In effect, Moses was saying, “What if I go to preach and nobody listens or even cares?” This is one fear of every preacher: “What if the people do not listen? What if they do not come? What if my words make no contact and no difference at all?”
God replied convincingly: “Moses, I will create signs and wonders before you. I will make the fruits of your ministry happen. I will make things happen.” That was a promise.
I ask the question: “How many sign and wanders have we seen in our life?” Probably a lot.
4- Moses relentlessly threw his fourth “Yes, but” at God. Moses trembled at the thought of what might be unavoidable. He said, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent. . . . I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (4:10). Moses pleaded a new tact: “I mumble a lot, Lord. I can’t think fast on my feet. And I don’t always use good grammar.”
God’s response to Moses’ self-imposed lack of skill was wonderful: “I will be with your mouth” (4:12). We remember the promises to the disciples where they were told by Jesus that they will receive the words to speak when they stand before power and before enemies.
5- The fifth “Yes, but” annoyed the patience of God. Moses said: “O my Lord, please send someone else” (4:13). Here is a last desperate plea to avoid the interruption of a very pleasant existence. “I really do enjoy retirement, Lord. And those senior discounts at the fast-food counters and movie theatres are really nice. You don’t really want me to go to Egypt, do you?”
With the fifth “Yes, but” we read, “Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses” (4:14). God was frustrated with all of Moses’ excuses—and ours! In the end, God told Moses that Aaron will be called to be alongside. Moses will give Aaron the words of God to speak, and God will be with both of their mouths. In essence God said, “No more objections, Moses. Now go!”
Moses went in faith.
Someone has said that faith is most simply “waiting for the rest of the story to unfold.”
We may be called. God may interrupt our life—either briefly, or for the long plea. We may “Yes, but” God a few times ourselves. However, in the end, we will find ourselves saying, “OK, Lord! Here I am. I have heard your call. I think I know your name and your nature. Here I am, Lord. Lead me to where the hurt is. Help me set your people free. And I will go.”
There is a great lesson here that we should learn. God calls us no matter what we think or what we feel.
We may argue and play the game “Yes, but”. But at the end of the day, when He calls us we should respond and commit ourselves to the work. We should respond to His call and be ready to serve Him.
This is a requirement from every Christian and every believer. If we are the church and its members, and as we said last Sunday, His Church, then we have to play our role using the talents and the gifts given to us by God.
We could easily make arguments and try to give reasons not to do what we are supposed to do. But God’s call is right there. We have to respond and respond positively.

Krikor Youmshajekian