What Moses’ Transformation Reveals about Growing Faith
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Do you ever feel stuck in your anxiety and fear? Do you find yourself frustrated by how you react in stressful or unsettling situations? I’ve been actively pursuing Christ-centered growth for over two and a half decades and therapeutic healing for nearly three years. Yet I still, on occasion, succumb to my old unhelpful fight-or-flight responses. For a time, this discouraged me, especially when I read accounts of biblical heroes who demonstrated radical courage, even in the face of death.
But then, God revealed a thought-provoking connection as I reflected upon one particular passage. Encapsulating Moses’s life, which had recently come to an end, Deuteronomy 34:10-12 states:
"Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt — to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel."
Timid Beginnings
As I read this beautiful eulogy, the Holy Spirit reminded me of another text, found in Exodus 3-4. This account, from the day in which God first called Moses to act as his people’s liberator, reveals a vastly different man than the one described in the verses above. Although Moses encountered Almighty God personally, and in a miraculous, jaw-dropping way, he couldn’t see past his flawed humanity.
“Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” he asked, causing one to wonder, had he forgotten about the circumstances surrounding his birth? Considering how a royal princess had pulled him from the Nile and saved him from death, had he not contemplated his purpose? Perhaps his years as a fugitive in Midian silenced the dream God placed in his heart. Regardless, when the time for action came, Moses fixated on his inadequacies rather than all-sufficient God.
The Lord responded by shifting Moses’ focus off himself and onto the One who reigned over all of history, cruel and oppressive leaders included. “I will be with you,” He said, adding, “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain” (Ex. 3:11-12, emphasis added).
The One who made Himself known through a desert bush ablaze with a non-consuming fire, promised Moses victory. Yet, still he doubted, voicing numerous concerns. What if the people didn’t believe him? After all, they’d rejected him the last time he’d tried to help them. How could he, a man “slow of speech and tongue” make demands of such a powerful and vicious leader as the Pharoah? (Ex. 4:10). God patiently addressed each of Moses’s concerns, through irrefutable truths and undeniable supernatural acts.
But Moses remained so stuck in his fear, that he actually told the Lord no. “Pardon your servant, Lord,” he said. “Please send someone else” (Ex. 4:13).
I resonate with this please, which is why I find such comfort and encouragement in God’s response. Knowing precisely who Moses would become, the Lord graciously provided human support through his brother who, along with their sister, became his close assistants.
The Significance of Moses’ Doubt
Moses’ story assures me that I can start afraid and finish well. It also reminds me of God’s tendency to use weak and insecure people, like me, through whom to perform some of His mightiest acts.
This verifies the words recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, which states:
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’"
This passage tells me that Christ uses my flaws and deficiencies, when yielded to Him, to reveal His glory. However, it’s important to note, while doubt visits everyone, our inner wrestling alone won’t produce deeper trust. As Moses’ journey, compared with his fellow Hebrews, demonstrates, only those who seek God in their fear experience increased faith.
Choosing to Whom We’ll Turn
In Exodus, God reveals the importance of seeking Him in times of fear. Moses experienced all the crises as his countrymen. He also wandered through a hot, dry desert, parched, without a stream or well in sight. His stomach felt the pangs of hunger in a land void of crops or marketplaces. No doubt these legitime needs evokes intense emotions within him. Scripture also records instances when Moses experienced the same intense emotions as his countrymen. He expressed overwhelm, extreme fatigue, despair, and what appears to be panic. Yet, each time, he brought his emotions to God.
In Exodus 15, when he and the people reached a body of bitter, presumably toxic, water, the Israelites grumble against Moses. But according to Exodus 15:25, “Moses cried out to the Lord,” and God made the water drinkable. In Exodus 17, the people’s thirst turned to fear which stirred them into a dangerous mob. Fearing for his life, Moses again cried out to the Lord, stating, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” Again, God came through, told Moses to strike a rock, and caused enough water to gush out — enough for everyone and their cattle.
Again and again, when threatened or discouraged, the Hebrews complained and fretted to one another, which only served to feed their and each other’s fears. Moses, however, routinely sought help from God, who always provided the assurance and provision Moses needed. Because of this, every difficulty resulted in deeper trust in and relationship with his all-powerful Provider.
Confidence through Proximity
Numerous verses in the New Testament promise Christ-followers joy and peace. On the night before His death, Jesus said, “I have told you this,” referring to everything recorded in the passage prior, so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11, emphasis added). In this He makes clear, we can’t fabricate this precious soul-state ourselves. As He emphasized in verses 1-4, we must remain connected and vitally dependent upon Him, our nourishing vine.
Moses seemed to understand this, likely because he knew how it felt to live sustained by the Lord, lovingly and completely in tune with Him. In Deuteronomy 34:10, he and God had a “face-to-face” relationship, a Hebrew idiom denoting intimacy. We read these same words, with additional detail, in Exodus 33:11, which reads, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
This statement gains significance when one considers the surrounding circumstances. This was shortly after God had called Moses to ascend Mount Sinai to meet with Him and receive instructions regarding how He wanted His people to live. Upon returning, Moses found the Israelites worshiping a golden calf, and “engage[ing] in lewd behavior” (Ex. 32:6, NASB). As one might expect, Moses and God were not pleased. The Lord became so upset that He determined not to accompany the people to their destination.
He would remain faithful to His word. He would still give the people the land He’d promised to them, and their forefathers before them. He’d drive out the wicked people groups occupying the area. But He’d do all this through an angel. He Himself would not accompany them, for they were “a stiff-necked people” that He otherwise “might destroy … on the way” (Ex. 33:1-3).
In other words, Moses would receive material blessings, success as a leader, and therefore the people’s respect. He would gain all the things their culture, and ours, believe bring fulfillment and joy. But he would forfeit the Lord’s presence.
Moses decided that was a cost he wasn’t willing to pay. Therefore, he told God, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Ex. 33:15). He was willing to lose everything else, if it meant maintaining his connection with His Creator. This was a pivotal decision in his life, one that ultimately defined his ministry, built his character, forfeited his soul, and, no doubt, strengthened his relationship with God. This also reveals how he moved from the fearful coward we saw in Exodus 4 to the mighty man of faith he became.
And here’s why his transformation encourages me. I see myself in his response upon hearing God’s call from within the burning bush. This is why I can also envision myself as a woman who, one day, is known as a mighty woman of God who met with the Lord face-to-face and grew increasingly bold with every Spirit-led step.
Thanks to Christ and the power He deposited within our souls, we can turn to Him with our most intense doubts, trusting Him to lead us to truth and to deepen our relationship with Him in the process. And as we experience Him in our most anxious and chaotic places, we come to know Him more, which in turn leads to greater trust and decreased fear. The Holy Spirit within us will lead us to the transformation Scripture promises and we seek. As we grow closer to Him, He will help us move from fearful to faithful.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Orla
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.