Faith Insight 9: Moses—Faith in the God Who Goes with Us

FAITH THAT LIVES — WEEKLY INSIGHT

Faith Insight 9: Moses—Faith in the God Who Goes with Us

“He said, ‘But I will be with you.’”— Exodus 3:12 (ESV)

Abraham was called to go without knowing the destination.

Noah was called to act before he could see the events God had foretold.

Now Moses confronts another obstacle to living faith:

What happens when the problem is not the uncertainty ahead of us, but the inadequacy we see within ourselves?

When God called Moses from the burning bush and told him that he would be sent to Pharaoh, Moses immediately saw a problem… Himself.

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”— Exodus 3:11 (ESV)

It is a very human question.

Who am I?

Am I capable enough?

Am I strong enough?

Do I know enough?

What if I fail?

Moses would raise additional objections.

He worried that the Israelites would not believe him.

He worried about his ability to speak.

But God's first answer to Moses is striking.

God did not respond by telling Moses how impressive Moses was.

He did not say, “Moses, believe in yourself.”

Instead He said:

“But I will be with you.”

The foundation of Moses' calling was not Moses' sufficiency.

It was God's presence.

That distinction is important for living faith.

Sometimes we assume that strong faith means becoming increasingly confident in our own ability to handle whatever comes.

Scripture repeatedly points us somewhere else.

Faith teaches us to become increasingly confident in God.

There will be situations in which our abilities really are inadequate.

There will be problems we cannot solve.

There will be responsibilities that feel larger than our strength.

There will be times when we do not know what to say or what to do.

Faith does not require us to pretend otherwise.

Moses' weakness was real.

But it was not the only reality.

God was going with him.

That changes the question.

Instead of asking only:

“Am I capable of doing this?”

Faith also asks:

“Is God able to sustain me as I do what He has called me to do?”

This does not mean that every difficult undertaking is something God has called us to pursue. Nor does faith excuse us from preparation, wisdom, or seeking help.

But when God's direction is clear, our limitations do not have to become the final word. We can acknowledge weakness without making weakness greater than God.

Perhaps this is one reason God so often works through people who are deeply aware of their limitations.

Self-sufficiency says: “I can handle this.”

Despair says: “I cannot handle this, so there is no hope.”

Faith says: “I may not be sufficient, but God will be with me.”

Abraham teaches us to trust God with the unknown.

Noah teaches us to trust God's Word before we see the outcome.

Moses teaches us to trust God's presence when we feel inadequate.

Living faith does not depend upon having confidence in ourselves.

It depends upon knowing the God who goes with us.

FOR REFLECTION

Am I measuring what God asks of me primarily by my limitations—or by His presence and sufficiency?

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Identify one responsibility, conversation, decision, or difficulty in which you feel inadequate.

Instead of beginning with “I can't,” begin with a prayer:

“Lord, if this is what You would have me do, help me depend upon Your presence rather than my own strength.”

Then prepare faithfully, act wisely, and take the next step without pretending that you must carry everything alone.

A SIMPLE PRAYER

Father, You know my weaknesses better than I do. Keep me from trusting in my own strength, but also keep my limitations from becoming an excuse for disobedience. When You call me to take a faithful step, remind me that You are with me. Teach me to depend upon Your strength rather than my own. In Jesus' name, amen.

Next Teaching Insight: Peter—Trusting Christ Enough to Step Out

Adapted from themes explored in Faith That Lives by Dr. James D. Zuber.