Human Stubbornness – Why Do We Constantly Question God’s Judgement?
Exodus Chapter 4
In this Chapter of Exodus, we have some verbal exchanges being done between Moses and God Himself. The Lord is granting Moses with the power to demonstrate supernatural signs so that God can provide concrete proof of His divine power.
The Lord tells Moses that by throwing his staff on the ground it will turn into a snake. The passage states that Moses does so, and he then runs from the snake that has formed. God then tells Moses to put his hand into his cloak, which then reveals leprous skin has formed on his hand. The Lord says, “Now put it back into your cloak”, and the damaged skin becomes restored.
The Lord explains to Moses, if they do not believe the first sign, show them the second so that they may believe. God even says to give a 3rd sign:
Exodus 4:9: “But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground”.
A couple things to note here. God is constantly demonstrating His power to us, and He gives us so many chances to see it, to believe it. You would think one sign (a stick turning into a snake!) would be enough – but He is gracious enough to give multiple signs, and not only that, grant His almighty power to a human, nonetheless.
A question that keeps haunting me the entire time I am reading Exodus is – why do humans have such audacity? Why are we constantly questioning God? We question His judgement often, which Moses openly does in Chapter 4.
After God tells Moses exactly what to do and why he is to do it, Moses says, “Pardon your servant, 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”. It proves how our human insecurities leak so deeply into our souls, that it will cause us to distrust God – even when God is speaking directly to us.
The Lord says in response to Moses, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say”.
After reading the Lord’s response I was left speechless, as I many times am. He always knows exactly what to say to His children. The Lord truly is our Father – warm and loving, yet stern when need be. He tells Moses, trust me, I am there with you even when you are scared.
Even still, Moses comes back to say to God, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else”.
In the following verse, Exodus 4:14, it says, “Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron and Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you”.
God does not force Moses to do anything. Moses is stubborn and insecure for not accepting God’s request, but instead of God punishing him, He gives an alternative.
His mercy is given away freely – as He allows humans to practice free will. So, God said that Moses may speak God’s word to Aaron, and Aaron will then relay the word to the people.
Exodus Chapter 4 embodies so many teachable lessons throughout, even in the first few lines. As a parent, it is a gentle reminder to be patient with our children – and that we need to be a figure of trust and a confident leader. We can help our children through insecurities – just like God helped Moses.
It’s a lesson for everyone that trusting God in His divineness is pleasing to Him, and that we shouldn’t always have to question all things He does – we can find rest in allowing Him to be the leader of our lives.
xoxoD
