“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?’” – Numbers 14:11
All too often, God’s people struggle to walk by faith rather than sight. Like the Israelites, we get stuck thinking about the challenges we face in obeying God rather than thinking about the God Whom we’re called to obey. We play the “What if” game. We think about all the ways things could go wrong. We think about all that’s wrong about us.
In the Wilderness, this looked like the Israelite’s paralyzing fear of those currently living in the promised land rather than confidence in the God Who visibly went with them, working wonders. Their fear was so powerful they wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt rather than forward in faith!
Today, this looks like the excuses we (individuals and churches) make for not making disciples, not sharing the Gospel, not going to the ends of the earth, not taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus, not pursuing the holiness of Jesus. It can also look like running from God’s call on our lives rather than running toward it. It can look like delaying obedience until “a better time” when we have more money, more time, more energy, better health, a different job, or a changed family situation. But disobedience is disobedience…
In these moments, we must step back and consider the extraordinary faithfulness, power, and provision of God. He has already promised to be with us when we follow Him. He has made clear for centuries and in our own lives that He can provide miraculously beyond anything we imagine. He has made clear His will and His willingness to act to accomplish His will. When we do, we must choose to believe God and His promises over the fear of our eyes and hearts. Then, we must take whatever steps we’re called to take by faith rather than our own sight. The more often we do so, the easier it becomes!