Moses had plenty to fear. His assignment shoved him into the world’s most powerful ruler. Pharaoh of Egypt. God told Moses to go and take Pharaoh’s free labor force away from him.
Like Moses, we all have our fears we must face—mistakes from the past, concerns about the future, fighting a terrible job, furloughed away from a job, forced to make a difficult choice, overwhelmed with responsibilities, questioning whether our faith morals and beliefs fit today’s diverse thinking.
“God, you want me to believe what? You want me to believe that much? You want me to give up my options? You want me to disagree with what my own heart is telling me?”
I want to point out some of the earlier 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 the faith that he didn’t know he had. And filled his mouth with words that he didn’t think he could speak.
The conversation starts when God is speaking to Moses from a burning bush, “Now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Moses replies, “Who, me??”
God promises, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). Moses backpedals. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me” (Exodus 4:1)? 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. “O Lord, I have never been eloquent … I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10). Here is God’s response to that excuse from Moses, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4:11,12).
And with that, it became clear that Moses wouldn’t be working alone. Pharaoh would put up a fight, but it wasn’t against Moses, but Moses and God.
How did it turn out for Moses? “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger” (Hebrews 11:27).
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’re not working alone. God is on your side. That’s how you can believe, how you can say what needs to be said, and how you can change the world.
PRAYER: God, sometimes I’m afraid of what you expect me to do. But only when I am thinking about myself. Because you promise to be with me and equip me, I can do everything you command. Help me believe in you, and not be afraid. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: What do you need to do right now that seems impossible? What promise of God applies? Seek it. Believe it. And don’t be afraid to move forward.