(Preamble: this is a loose paraphrase with “artistic license” of the account of Exodus 3-4, in a spirit of reverence to the holy Word of God and to God’s holy prophet St. Moses)

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The LORD appeared to Moses in an unburnt bush, aflame
He’d heard the Hebrews groaning
Under Pharoah’s lash of shame
So God told Moses to return and free them from their tears
Yet Moses’ heart was cramped with doubt and fear

“BUT who am I to go to Pharaoh? Who am I to plead?
BUT I can’t save your people!
I’m a nobody, indeed!”
His BUT’s got in his way, but couldn’t counter God’s rebuttals
Away from God’s command, he couldn’t scuttle

So God said, “I’ll be with you; very soon this sign you’ll see:
One day upon this mountain
You will serve and worship me!
Yet Moses wasn’t ready to say yes to God’s request
He moved from BUT’s to IF’s in his distress

“So IF I were to go to all the Israelites and say
‘Your God has sent me to you!’
And then they ask Your name?
What shall I say?” The LORD replied, “Say, I AM WHO I AM (1)
Your forebears’ God, beginning with Abraham”

“BUT what if they do not believe or listen to my words
BUT say, ‘The LORD did not appear!
That’s crazy! That’s absurd!’”
The LORD replied, “What’s in your hand?” and Moses said, “A staff”
God ordered, “Throw it down on My behalf”

He tossed it down; it changed into a snake (perhaps an asp)
The LORD said, “Grasp its tail”
It changed back into a staff!
Next God instructed Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak”
He did, then pulled it out, turned white as snow!

“Now put your hand back in your cloak”, said God, and he obeyed
When he pulled it out again
It was back to normal shade!
Despite these signs, he let another BUT soon block his way
With patient love, God listened to him pray

“BUT LORD, I’m slow of speech!” A good excuse? It was a dud
“Who gives strength to speak at all?
You’ll change water into blood!
For I’ll be with you, and I’ll tell you what to say”, God said
Then Moses cried, “Send someone else instead!”

The LORD had Aaron, Moses’ brother, join him as his speaker
Then sent them on their quest
Egypt’s “gods” proved all the weaker
God freed those slaves, and still today frees slaves from cruel misers
Like IF’s and BUT’s and other paralyzers

The Pharaoh and his slav’ry are true symbols of our foes:
The sin and death that CAPTURED us
And Satan’s “empty show”
The NEW Moses, Christ Jesus, by His death and rising, freed us!
He RESCUED us; His Spirit now will lead us!

The next time some BUT blocks you as you follow God each day
Like, “BUT I’m just not strong enough”
Or, “BUT I can’t, no way!”
Recall the words of Paul, “I can do ALL through Christ Who strengthens me” (2)
And then get off your BUT’s…

…and on your knees!

*****
St. Moses, pray for us!

*Main source of inspiration besides Exodus:
https://stephenblandino.com/2015/12/ditching-the-five-excuses-that-paralyze-progress.html

(1) “I AM WHO I AM” is often translated as “LORD“

(2) Philippians 4:13