 |
| Moses Talking to God |
Sometimes it is difficult to move forward in life because of these two things: lack of identity and a sign that everything is going to be fine. The difference between what you will become or do when you obey the voice of God and the starting point of your journey is mostly unknown and that scares everyone.
Imagine God telling you today, as He did to Abraham, to leave your hometown, city, or country to a place that He will show you. What would you do? Obviously, you would start thinking about your passport, where you are going to stay, what you will do and become, what you would eat, how you would travel, which direction you are going to take, and many other questions. You would also start to think about the things and people you would leave behind and what would happen to them in your absence. Your heart would be filled with many unanswered questions.
Do not think you would be the only one to struggle with these questions, everyone would struggle too. Even Moses struggled with them.
In Exodus 3:11-12 (NIV), we see that Moses did not simply follow the instruction to go and save the Israelites without hesitation. He was very honest about his own insecurities in his mind and asked God some honest questions.
Much as the number one ingredient of faith is obedience, faith sometimes asks questions. The psalmists asked God questions depending on the circumstances they were in. For example, Psalm 13:1-2 (NIV) says: "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?"
Does that mean that in that particular time the psalmist lacked faith? Absolutely not. Questions are very much a part of your faith in God.
Asking God questions brings clarity, provides a sense of direction, and demonstrates authenticity. It helps to pour out your thoughts and mind in the presence of God. In addition, questions to God prolong your conversation with the Father and who would not want to spend more time in communion with God? Of course, no one. Questions also help you to know and understand the thoughts and mind of God over your life.
However, it is not every time that we should ask God questions like Moses did. Sometimes it is better to obey and move on with God's instruction like Abraham, and let the presence of God fill the gap between your point of departure and your destination.
When God told Moses to move, he promised him that he would, be with him and revealed to him the end game: that they would worship on the same mountain upon returning.
The fact that God is going to be with you is an indication that He knows and cares about your insecurities. He will cover and provide for you until He finishes what He began with you. And when you make it and stand on the mountain of your destination and look back, you will see God's footprints everywhere in the story of your journey. Then you will know that God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End with everything in between testifying of His glory in your life.
The next time God told Moses to move, he did not ask questions. Instead, he begged and bargained for God's presence to go with him, else he would not go (Exodus 33:14-16 NIV). That tells you everything about what Moses learned and discovered about God during his journey with Him to the point that he could not bear the thought of separation from His presence.
Was he wrong to ask questions in the first place? As we said, part of faith is to ask questions when you consider the stakes or the gravity of your own circumstance. But in whatever situation questions or no questions you have to be able to move and count on Him to take care of the rest.
Heavenly Father,
I come before You honestly, carrying all my unanswered questions and hidden insecurities. You see the unknown road ahead of me, and You know how my heart wrestles with thoughts of what I must leave behind and what lies ahead.
Lord, like Moses, I ask my questions not from a place of unbelief, but from a place of wanting to know Your heart. Give me clarity where I need it, and peace where I don't. Help me to understand that Your presence is the only sign I will ever need.
When You call me to move, give me the courage to obey like Abraham—to step out without seeing the full picture, trusting that You who called me are faithful. Fill every gap between my departure and my destination with the reality of Your presence.
And when I am tempted to bargain for anything less than You, remind me that Your presence is the one thing necessary. Let me learn, as Moses learned, that I never want to move without You.
I trust that when I finally stand on the mountain of my destination and look back, I will see Your faithfulness in every step of the journey. For You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, and everything in between testifies of Your glory.
In Jesus' mighty name I pray,
Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment