The Five ‘buts’ of Moses

Discerners pray during Adoration at the Church of the Incarnation on the University of Dallas campus in Irving during the 2025 Vocations Awareness Program on June 13, 2025. The JPII monstrance is shown in the photo. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

Two of our main responsibilities as Christians are to grow in faith and to show our faith. 

Many of us are pretty good at growing in faith: We attend Mass, pray, maybe even read our Bibles from time to time. But showing our faith can be more challenging.

We can get caught up in what is often referred to as the five “buts” of Moses. God asked Moses to go to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery, and Moses responded with five reasons why he was not the right man for the job. 

As we will see, our reticence to share our faith can mirror many, if not all, of Moses’ excuses.

But who am I?

To kick things off we hear this: “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 3:11).

We can all fall into the trap that we are not good enough, or do not have enough faith, or are not holy enough. Sharing our faith is not so much about our perfection, but about relationship. We all have some level of experience of God and that is all we are being asked to share. 

But who are You?

Next, we hear: “But Moses said to God, ‘If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what do I tell them?’” (Exodus 3:13).

Implicit in this objection is that we do not know enough about God to share about Him. Being a theologian or spiritual master is not a prerequisite. All that is needed is a willingness to share about how our faith in God has impacted our life.

But what if I’m rejected?

Moses’ next objection is about how he will be received: “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me?” (Exodus 4:1).

It is natural to worry about being rejected. The way past this concern is to see others with the heart of the Father, the God who leaves the 99 to go after the one. Ultimately it is not about results, but allowing the force of God’s love in our life to propel us to share this love with others.

But I’m a mess!

Moses is running out of excuses, so he turns to his inadequacies. “But Moses said to the Lord, ‘If you please, my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue’” (Exodus 4:10).

Haven’t we all felt unqualified or unable to be an evangelist? We are too busy; we are not a priest or sister; we are not saints; we are not this or not that. But as with the case of Moses, it’s not about what we are not; it is about who God is and who we can be with God by our side.

But I don’t want to!

Moses is finally out of excuses and speaks from his heart: “But he said, ‘If you please, my Lord, send someone else’” (Exodus 4:13).

We often just do not want to share our faith; there are a myriad of reasons for this. But it is important to take a step back and realize that we have the faith we have because other people shared the faith they had with us. At some point, it is our turn to do the sharing.

If any of these “buts” have resonated with you, take them to prayer and ask God to turn your reluctance to evangelize into a reason to share your faith. One of the highest compliments any of us can receive is to have our name come up when someone talks about how they have grown in faith. 

The only way the faith is spread is by people to people — no ifs, ands, or buts!