Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
“I’ll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”
Exodus 3: 11-12 The Message
Have you ever been asked to do something really difficult? Have you ever been put in a situation where you felt out of your comfort zone? Here is Exodus 3, God asks Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. This is not a simple request. It is going to be extremely difficult and challenging. It will be vastly different from anything Moses had ever experienced, up to that point in his life.
God promises Moses that He will be with him. God lets Moses know that His presence will be constant. Moses could have no way of knowing exactly how difficult his negotiations would be with Pharoah, how it would take seven plagues before the release of the Jewish people, nor how even some of the people Moses would be leading would rebel against his own leadership. Moses came up with a variety of excuses. With each one, God gently reminded Moses that He would be there for him. Somehow, the knowledge of God’s permanent presence gave Moses a sense of peace. The Lord’s promised constant presence gave him the strength to trust God.
We all meet challenges in our lives. Some are large, expanding over time, and others are everyday events. What difficult and hard things are you facing right now? Do you sometimes doubt you are up to the task? If so, remember that God’s promise to Moses is also His promise to us. “I will be with you.” The Lord promises to be with us always. Not only when the going gets tough, but always. This promise reminds us that the Lord wants us to share every corner of our lives with Him. There is a tremendous difference in our lives when we are not attempting to do it all by ourselves.
Recently, Jeana and I watched the movie, “Prince Caspian”, based on one of the books in C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. Throughout the books, C. S. Lewis uses the imagery of the Lord as a powerful and yet gentle and loving Lion named Aslan. There is something both fearful and yet calming and peaceful when Aslan lets out his ferocious roar. In the final battle scene of the movie, a sense of hopelessness has set in. It appears that there is no way for good to win out in the battle against evil. Evil is winning! Yet just then, Aslan appears. His presence makes all the difference. The good wins out in the end.
The same Lord who took Moses’ hand, and walked with him through the Dead Sea, helped David to slay Goliath, and raised Jesus from the dead, is also your Lord. The presence of the Almighty will make a difference in your life, always. No matter the ups and downs of our lives, we can choose to never go it alone. Please listen when God says to you, “I will be with you.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for wanting to be with me, every step I take. Forgive me when I think I can do it by myself, believing I don’t need You. Help me to see that I am not weak when I ask for Your help. In truth, that is when I am strong. Humble my heart. Help to see You in others, for I know You have placed them in my life to aid me, assist me, and to love me. May my faith in You be strong, even when I am feeling weak. In all things, remind me that nothing is impossible with You. I pray this prayer in the name of Your son, and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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