From Doubt To Duty
“Then Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you?’. The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff” Moses replied.” – Exodus 4:1-2
Moses was around 80 years old when the Lord called him to deliver the people of Israel out of slavery. What I find funny is how similar the life of Moses is to us…me especially. God, the One who makes impossible become possible, calls Moses…a stutterer…a murderer…to do the impossible, yet, Moses still doubts.
Moses’ insecurity kicks in and he basically says, “But God…they won’t listen.” Then God responds with a short, yet, tremendous question: “What is that in your hand, Moses?” A staff. A staff showed others around you that you were a shepherd. A staff was used to lead and protect the flock, but what God reveals to us in this passage is amazing. God had ordained Moses, from the beginning of time, to use what he did in the past to lead God’s people out of slavery!
The staff that Moses had was used to do miraculous things for all of Egypt to see and believe in God, BUT Egypt’s heart was hardened too much to believe, but that didn’t stop God from doing His will.
Hear me out on this…I believe the staff that Moses carried was not only a reminder to the Israelites, but it was a reminder to Moses that no matter what he faced, no matter where he was, no matter how big an obstacle might be, God was with him! Listen to me reader. God is with you. You might not feel Him, you might not understand His works, but He is there. I promise.
This weekend, Lindsey and I took some of our youth to Winterfest in Knoxville, TN. Surrounded by 22,000+ people, it is easy to worship and feel the presence of God. The first night, Francis Chan brought a simple, but powerful word calling us to repentance. The second night, Kevin Wallace brought an incredible word about the anointing of God and with the anointing of God, we are to look different from the world. And lastly, on Sunday morning, Reggie Dabbs brought an outstanding conclusion to Winterfest. Reggie Dabbs gave a couple of scenarios of worldly actions and what they lead to, but one thing he said multiple times has stuck with me and everybody I know. Those words are: I am the answer.
Just like Moses, we too doubt, but there are times in our lives when we have to realize that no matter how mad we are at past circumstances, or how upset we are because something didn’t go our way, well…we just need to get over it, because we have a duty to go into all the nations and make disciples. Jesus’ last command to us was not an option, it was a command! Like Moses, we are also faced with impossible circumstances (in our eyes) that God calls us to do, but what we need to do is know that God is with us!
No matter how many times you fail at what you are doing, God is with you! No matter how many times you look in the mirror and ask yourself “why me”, God is with you! No matter how many times you were hurt, God is with you! No matter how lonely you feel, God is with you! The staff was given to Moses as a sign God being with him, and just like Moses, we have the Spirit of God living inside of us. GOD IS WITH YOU! God is with you, mighty warrior! Take your doubt and realize that you have a duty…a job…a calling to lead people to Christ. You are the answer! Now go! God is with you!
