Think Truth to Take Risks
When we demean ourselves, we demean our Maker
Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before God appeared to him at the burning bush. He worked as a shepherd. He lived with his wife Zipporah. They raised children together. Moses was no longer a prince in a palace. But unlike his fellow Israelites, he wasn’t a slave either. God had given him the blessing of a good life. What would Moses’ own parents have given to be able to live as a family in the peace and freedom Moses now had?
The last thing Moses was expecting while trending his flock was for God to appear to him and say “Behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:9–10)
Moses had learned how to endure failure, but now he was faced with something even harder: learning how to risk failing again. I can understand why Moses was hesitant. He had lost everything trying to free Israel from Egypt. He had a family now. A career that paid the bills. A future he could depend on. Why take the exact same risk again?
After God lays out his plan to save the Israelites, Moses has a very understandable fear, saying to the Lord “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” (Exodus 4:1). After all, it was the Israelites that didn’t believe him the last time he tried to liberate them. God graciously explains to Moses that he will be able to perform miracles to prove the authenticity of his message. But this isn’t enough for Moses. He tells God “I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Exodus 4:10)
Moses had what Karl would call a Think Truth problem. We know from Acts that “Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.” (Acts 7:22). Moses no longer had an accurate picture of himself. He had succumbed to self-loathing thoughts. On the surface it might seem humble, but when we demean ourselves, we demean our Maker. Self-loathing thoughts are so destructive because they distort our view of God.
“Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.” (Exodus 4:11–15)
Moses would have allowed his failure to Think Truth to prevent him from taking the risk God asked of him. God was gracious with him and ultimately Moses didn’t miss out on the opportunity to lead the Israelites out of captivity. I know in my own life there have been plenty of time where my failure to think truth prevented me from taking Godly risk. If that is you right now, would you humbly ask God for his grace to free you have destructive thinking and give you the courage to take the risks He has for you? You might just be amazed by what’s waiting on the other side.
Shawn