Misinterpretations of this verse often portray Moses' response as mere cowardice, unbelief, or outright disobedience, overlooking the genuine humility rooted in his awareness of past failures like the murder in Egypt and his life as a fugitive shepherd. Others wrongly use it to justify shirking God-given responsibilities by emphasizing personal inadequacy without pursuing divine empowerment, or misread it as God coercing an unwilling servant, ignoring the relational dialogue that follows where God reassures and commissions Moses step by step.
Exodus 3:11
King James Version (1769)
11 And Moses said unto God, 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 reveals Moses' profound humility and sense of personal inadequacy when God calls him to lead Israel out of Egypt, questioning his own worthiness to confront Pharaoh. This moment illustrates a core biblical truth: God often selects the most unlikely and self-doubting individuals for His grand purposes, not because of their inherent abilities, but to demonstrate His power and faithfulness in equipping those who respond in obedience despite their fears.