Take Risks to Take Risks?
The more faith we have the more faith we come to need
One of my favorite lines in Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton is “winning was easy, young man. Governing's harder.” With God’s help Moses finally succeeded in getting the people of Israel out of Egypt. However, he would soon learn that leading them into the promised land would prove impossible. The reality of the Christian walk is that for every risk God asks us to take today, there will be another risk He asks us to take tomorrow. The more faith we have the more faith we come to need, because our need for God can only ever increase.
Just take a look at what happens between Moses and the Israelites after leaving Egypt. When Pharaoh changes his mind and comes after the Israelites with his army what do the Israelites say to Moses?
“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:11–12)
This is after the Israelites witnessed the 10 plagues. This is after their prayers for freedom from Pharaoh had been answered. You would think they would be prepared to take another risk wouldn’t you? But no, instead Moses has to remind them who their God is by telling them “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13–14)
Just because Moses had successfully taken the risk of going to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery, doesn’t mean he needed God any less to save the Israelites from Pharaoh’s armies. The reward Moses receives for successfully taking risks, is being asked to take more and more risks.
In boxing the greatest fighters in the world used to be able to last 15 rounds every six months. As a Christian if you really want to get in the ring and take risks you’ll be asked to go countless rounds every day. The only difference is we never have to do it alone.
Is there a risk you’re afraid to take because you know how much more God will require of you if that risk succeeds? Are you ready to ask God to help you take it on?
Shawn