Men’s Bible Study: Making Excuses for God’s Calling
Opening Discussion Questions
- What is one time you clearly sensed God prompting you to do something—but you hesitated?
- Why do you think men, in particular, struggle with spiritual hesitation or avoidance?
- What fears most often keep us from stepping into leadership, service, or obedience?
- How can excuses sometimes sound reasonable—even spiritual?
- What is the difference between humility and unbelief when responding to God’s call?
Devotional Study: When God Calls and We Make Excuses
Throughout Scripture, faithful men often responded to God’s call with hesitation. Their excuses were real, human, and relatable. Yet God, in His grace, patiently corrected, reassured, and empowered them.
Below are examples that reveal how God responds to our reluctance.
1. Moses – “Who Am I?”
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” — Exodus 3:11
Explanation:
Moses’ objection reveals a dramatic transformation from the man he once was. Forty years earlier, according to Exodus 2, Moses attempted to deliver Israel by killing an Egyptian. That impulsive act forced him into exile. Now, four decades later, he is no longer a prince of Egypt but a shepherd in Midian—an occupation Egyptians despised (Genesis 46:34). His self-confidence had eroded.
Enduring Word notes that Moses’ question was not entirely inappropriate—it reflected humility—but it bordered on unbelief because it shifted the focus from God’s command to Moses’ adequacy. In the ancient Near East, Pharaoh was considered divine, the son of Ra. Moses was being sent not just against a ruler but against a theological system claiming divine authority.
God’s response in verse 12 is key: “I will certainly be with you.” The answer to “Who am I?” is not self-esteem but divine presence. BibleRef emphasizes that God’s calling always comes with God’s empowerment. Moses’ inadequacy was the very stage on which God would display His glory through plagues, miracles, and deliverance.
Relevant Question:
- Are you measuring your calling by your résumé instead of God’s presence?
“But Moses said to the LORD, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent… I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’” — Exodus 4:10
Explanation:
Moses’ second major excuse concerns ability. Whether he had a speech impediment or simply lacked confidence in formal rhetoric, he believed he was unqualified to stand before Pharaoh’s court. Egyptian culture prized education and eloquence. Moses may have feared humiliation in a sophisticated royal environment.
Enduring Word points out that Moses was likely educated in “all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22), suggesting his objection may have been exaggerated by fear. This reveals how insecurity distorts memory and identity. BibleRef explains that God’s response—“Who has made man’s mouth?”—redirects Moses to divine sovereignty. God claims authority over physical ability itself.
God does provide Aaron as a spokesman, but later in Scripture Moses becomes the dominant voice. This suggests that God gently accommodates weakness while still stretching faith. The deeper issue was not speech—it was trust.
Relevant Question:
- What ability do you claim you lack that God may actually want to develop through obedience?
2. Gideon – “My Background Is Too Small”
“Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” — Judges 6:15
Explanation:
The period of the Judges (approximately 1380–1050 BC) was marked by spiritual cycles: rebellion, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. Midianite raiders devastated Israel’s agriculture for seven years. Gideon’s fear is evident—he threshes wheat in a winepress, hiding from enemies.
When the Angel of the LORD calls him “mighty man of valor,” it is a declaration of what God intends to make him, not what he currently is. Enduring Word highlights that God often speaks to men according to their calling, not their condition. Gideon’s argument centers on tribal insignificance. In Israelite culture, tribal standing determined influence and honor.
BibleRef notes that Gideon’s humility borders on self-doubt. Yet God’s answer mirrors what He told Moses: “I will be with you.” The victory over Midian—with only 300 men (Judges 7)—ensured that Israel could not boast. Historically and theologically, God deliberately reduced Gideon’s army so that deliverance would be unmistakably divine.
Relevant Question:
- Do you believe God can use your ordinary life for extraordinary impact?
3. Jeremiah – “I Am Too Young”
“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” — Jeremiah 1:6
Explanation:
Jeremiah’s ministry began around 627 BC during King Josiah’s reign and extended through the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. He would preach repentance to a nation heading toward judgment. As a likely teenager or young adult, Jeremiah feared dismissal due to age.
In ancient Jewish society, elders were gatekeepers of authority. Youth could imply inexperience and lack of credibility. Enduring Word emphasizes that Jeremiah’s objection echoes Moses’ earlier excuse, revealing a common human response to divine calling: self-disqualification.
God’s reply is firm: “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth.’” BibleRef underscores that God forbids Jeremiah from defining himself by limitation. The touching of Jeremiah’s mouth symbolizes divine commissioning. His authority would not come from age but from the Word of God placed within him.
Jeremiah’s later suffering—persecution, imprisonment, rejection—shows that his fear was not unfounded. Yet God sustained him for over forty years of ministry. Calling does not eliminate hardship, but it guarantees purpose.
Relevant Question:
- Are you allowing age—too young or too old—to excuse obedience?
4. Jonah – “I Don’t Want To”
“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” — Jonah 1:3
Explanation:
Jonah’s response differs from Moses or Jeremiah. He does not claim inability; he simply runs. Tarshish likely represented the far western edge of the known world—possibly Spain—while Nineveh lay east. Jonah headed in the opposite direction.
Nineveh, capital of Assyria, was infamous for brutality. Assyrian inscriptions describe torture and public displays of violence. Jonah’s nationalism and resentment likely fueled his rebellion. Enduring Word notes that Jonah fled not because God was harsh—but because God was merciful (Jonah 4:2).
BibleRef explains that fleeing “from the presence of the LORD” does not imply theological ignorance; Jonah knew God was omnipresent. Instead, he sought to abandon his prophetic office. The storm and the great fish demonstrate that God’s calling is persistent. Even discipline becomes redemptive.
Jonah exposes a deeper excuse: not fear of failure, but resistance to grace.
Relevant Question:
- Is there a command of God you resist because it conflicts with your personal preferences or prejudices?
5. The Rich Young Ruler – “The Cost Is Too High”
“When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” — Matthew 19:22
Explanation:
This encounter occurs during Jesus’ Judean ministry. The man was morally upright and eager for eternal life. In Jewish culture, wealth was often interpreted as divine favor (Deuteronomy 28). His status likely reinforced his confidence.
Enduring Word explains that Jesus’ command to sell possessions targeted the man’s idol—not establishing a universal requirement of poverty. BibleRef clarifies that the issue was misplaced trust. The man obeyed commandments externally but could not surrender internally.
His sorrow reveals conviction without surrender. He recognized the truth but valued security more than discipleship. Historically, this account challenges first-century assumptions that prosperity equals righteousness.
The tragedy is not that he was wealthy—but that he loved wealth more than Christ.
Relevant Question:
- What possession, status, or comfort would tempt you to walk away from full obedience?
6. The Great Commission – “Go Therefore”
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” — Matthew 28:19
Explanation:
These final words of Jesus were spoken in Galilee after the resurrection. The disciples had recently fled in fear, doubted reports of resurrection, and struggled with uncertainty (Matthew 28:17).
Enduring Word emphasizes that the command rests on Christ’s authority declared in verse 18: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” The mission is global in scope—“all nations” (ethne), meaning every ethnic group.
BibleRef highlights the structure: make disciples, baptize them, teach them. This is not merely evangelism but lifelong formation. Historically, within three centuries, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire despite persecution. The obedience of ordinary men altered history.
The promise “I am with you always” mirrors God’s words to Moses and Gideon. Presence fuels mission.
Relevant Question:
- Where is God calling you to step into disciple-making instead of passive belief?
Closing Reflection
Men often make excuses rooted in:
- Fear of failure
- Fear of inadequacy
- Fear of rejection
- Comfort and security
- Hidden rebellion
Yet Scripture consistently shows:
- God calls imperfect men.
- God knows our weaknesses.
- God promises His presence.
- God is glorified through surrendered obedience.
Final Group Discussion Questions
- Which biblical example resonated most with you and why?
- What excuse have you been repeating internally?
- What practical step of obedience can you take this week?
- Who in this group can hold you accountable?
Prayer Focus
Ask God to:
- Expose hidden excuses.
- Strengthen courage.
- Deepen trust.
- Make you a man who responds, “Here I am. Send me.”