Faith Over Fear

Pastor DaronCrossLife Blog

The escape of the Israelites from the powerful grip and greed of Pharaoh in Egypt is recorded in the Bible as a cornerstone of faith for God’s people of all times. Look at what our God can do! 

Not only is he powerful enough to topple the world’s greatest empire but he’s compassionate enough to rescue a bunch of slaves who are accusing him of selling them out. 

Yet things might have turned out differently if one man hadn’t believed. That man was Moses. How could little Moses believe that he could possibly bully big Pharaoh to let Egyptian slaves go free? 

Moses did believe (better at some times than others). The Bible says in Hebrews 11:27, “By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger.” And there was a lot to fear.

Like Moses, we all have our fears we must face—mistakes from the past, concerns about the future, trapped in a job, stuck in a relationship, forced to make a difficult choice, overwhelmed with responsibilities, questioning if our faith morals and beliefs fit today’s diverse thinking, realizing that this pandemic is lasting way too long. 

“God, you want me to believe what? You want me to believe that much? You want me to give up my opinions? You want me to disagree with what my own heart is telling me? Who do you think you are? God??”

Open your Bibles to Exodus 3 and I want to point out some of the interaction between God and Moses. You’ll notice how reluctant Moses really is to take on this task, and how God’s powerful promises drew out of Moses’ heart faith he didn’t know he had, and filled his mouth with words he didn’t think he could speak.

  1. The conversation starts in v. 10 when God is speaking to Moses from the burning bush, “ Now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses replies, “Who, me??” 
  2. Look at God’s promise in v. 12, “I will be with you.” 
  3. Go to chapter 4 verse 1 where Moses’ faith falters again and he asks, “What if [the Israelites] do not believe me or listen to me?” God agrees that is a possibility so promises Moses that he will empower him to perform miracles. That’s still not good enough so Moses hesitates again in v. 10, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent … I am slow of speech and tongue.” That’s like when the pastor says you could be a song leader on stage and you’re like, “Whoa, buddy, I can sing karaoke in my neighbor’s garage but I’m no song leader.” 
  4. Now, here is God’s response to that excuse from Moses, v. 11, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” 

And with that, it became clear that Moses wouldn’t be working alone. Pharaoh hadn’t picked a fight with just Moses. Moses and God could deliver the Israelites. That’s how Moses could believe. That’s how Pharaoh was overpowered. That’s how God rescued his people. 

And what about you, my friend? What are you most afraid of? Today God wants you to know that by listening to his promises, you can be free. More than that, you can speak his very words to others with as much power as Moses. You and God can do anything. That’s how you can believe.

PRAYER: Lord God, you called to Moses from a burning bush because the power of your faithful promises exceeds our earthly and human limitations. For that, I need faith today so that I trust in you more than anyone or anything. Open my eyes to see the burning power of your promises in my life. Amen.

FURTHER MEDITATION: Slow down, use the PRAY acronym.

  • Praise (tell God what you appreciate about his promises that are hard to believe)
  • Repent (tell God about your feeble faith that trusts in yourself too much, turn and trust in his promises of forgiveness)
  • Ask (for a bolder, more confident, “if God isn’t in this it will fail” kind of faith)
  • Yield (talk to God about the next step after you say “Amen,” how you want faith to lead the way, how you are willing to be part of his answer and see it develop for your good)