I’ve written about fear here before. It’s something that, dare I say, we all battle.
Hubs and I, along with our wonderful small group, recently lead a discussion on a few verses in Exodus with a focus on Moses.
Moses was not a strong leader, nor was he confident in his abilities to do as God instructed. But God loves to take the frail and broken and create something beautiful! To God be the glory! Moses was just that; weak. And God did some of His greatest work through Him.
“O Lord, I have never been
eloquent, neither in the past
nor since you have spoken to your
servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
-Exodus 4:10
Think back to Exodus 4:1-7 where God instructs Moses to throw his staff on the ground. What did it become? A serpent! And can you believe, God asked Moses to grab it by the tail? What was the point of that?
“This,” said the Lord,
“is so that they may believe.”
-Exodus 4:5
God instructed Moses to let go of what was in his hands. His rod. A sheperd’s staff is seen as his guide, his aide, his strength, and his protector.
In my mind, God was telling Moses, to place this object of false security on the ground so that God could show His power, His place in our lives. God is all those things that Moses thought His staff could provide. God is our protector, our guide, our shield, our provider, and our solid rock from which we gather our strength.
“I will give you every place where
you set your foot, as I promised Moses…
No one will be able to stand up against you
all the days of your life. As I was with
Moses, so I will be with you;
I will never leave you nor
forsake you.”
-Joshua 1:1-5
What is it in your life that you are holding onto? Is it a pen, a musical instrument, a ball, a book, your microphone, speaker’s notes, camera, and/or your needle and thread?
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What are you grasping with that death grip? What is the thing that you refuse to hand over to God because of fear of loss of control or failure?
Just like Moses, once he reliquished control over his rod and placed his faith and hope in God, he was able to accomplish much more. Because of God, Moses was taken from a person that was never thought to be much of a leader, into a man that would later lead the Israelites across the Red Sea.
And with what did he part the depths of the Red Sea and lead people to know and believe in Him? His staff!
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We too can make, create, lead, share, and shine our love for God through what is in our hands! We just have to surrender what is clenched in our palms to the man that has the future figured out!
What made Moses bargain with God? Fear, sense of unworthiness…you name it!
“O Lord, please send
someone else to do it.”
-Exodus 4:13
How often do we try to rationalize our reasons for not doing what we hear God whisper in our ears? Do you ever respond to God’s urges with one of these? ”Ah, I just can’t do that! I fail at that every time! Not me. No way. No how!”
It also is apparent to me that we need God’s constant reassurance. Why? Why do we need God to continue to prove that He is in control, He does work for good, and He is faithful?
“The Egyptians will know that I am
the Lord when I gain glory through
Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
-Exodus 14:18
“And when the Israelites saw the
great power the Lord
displayed against the
Eygptians, the people feared
the Lord and put their
trust in him and in Moses his servant.”
-Exodus 14:31
We have a choice. To give into the fear or to follow God’s call. The call that says to us that we can do it!
“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.”
-Exodus 4:15
When God calls us, He will surely equip us. God will be there with us during the highs and lows.
“By day the Lord went
ahead of them in a pillar
of cloud to guide them on their
way and by night in a pillar of fire to
give them light, so that they
could travel by day or night.
Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor
the pillar of fire by night left its place in front
of the people.”
-Exodus 13:21-22
And we, as Children of God, need to speak these truths to our souls. We need to have some verses that are easy to call to mind when we are in need of some truth and encouragement. What are your verses? I’d love to hear! Share away!
I pray that we are bold and intentional. I pray that we act. That we do something. I pray that what we do, say, and think is done to glorify His name.
If we seek Jesus and dig deep into the Bible, we will be able to pull from those scriptures that will reassure us. Seeking Jesus is seeking truth.
“Be strong and courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law
my servant Moses
gave you; do not turn
from it to the right or to the left, that
you may be successful wherever
you go. Do not let this Book of Law
depart from your mouth; meditate on
it day and night; so that you may be careful
to do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous and
successful. Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God
will be with you wherever you go.”
-Joshua 1:7-9
About the Author
Just now read this post and really needed it tonight! Thanks so much!!
Ashley, thank you for your comment. There are a lot of things that we sometimes need to hand over: our worry, fear, plans, questions. And sometimes, we need to relinquish the gifts He gave us so that He can use them to influence others, spread His good news, and His love.