UNBELIEF

This is part 3 in the series regarding the 5 excuses that Moses gave throughout his life.  These include identity, ignorance, unbelief, inadequacy, and unavailability.  

In this post, we’ll discuss unbelief.  Check out my first 2 posts in the series.

Moses’ Excuse: Exodus 4:1 – Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘They Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”

• Moses says that the people may not believe him.  This shows that he also has a hard time believing in God.  Even though unbelief is also not a good characteristic for a child of God, God was patient with Moses yet again.  Moses’ heart was not hardened. He was willing to believe. 

God’s Solution: (vs. 2) So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”  He said, “A rod.”

(vs. 9) And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land.  The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.

• God proceeds to show Moses His power.  He starts out by changing Moses’ shepherd’s rod into a snake and back into a rod.  The next sign was changing Moses’ clean hand into a leprous hand and then back again.  In vs. 9, we see that for this sign, God does not show a full demonstration.  And Moses also does not ask for more proof of God’s power.  His faith is strengthened. 

Application: God can replace our seeds of doubt with mustard seeds of faith. 

• Luke 17:6 - So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.

• There are many people whose faith was strengthened by God’s intervention.  Some examples: Gideon who asked God for assurance of His presence, with the test of the fleece.  Similarly with King Hezekiah, he asked for proof that God would extend his life and it was granted that the sundial would move backwards. 

Let us examine ourselves!

• Are we giving God excuses when He wants to use us for His plans and purposes?

• Do we have doubts of our own self-worth, or are we really doubting God?

• Are our excuses just a way to say that we are not available to answer His call?