There’s a very dear, familiar-to-me book packed cover to cover with true stories of great men and women.
I’ve been told these stories from my early childhood years, read them many times. I know the content well… or so I thought.
I’m referring to the Bible, and the stories I have in mind are those of Moses and the Israelites, Jonah, and Peter, just to mention a few.
Moses was a great leader. God called him to an enormous task and included him as a key player in an incredible exodus.
Before that happened, though, Moses tried to avoid the role he was being given. He claimed that due to his speech impediment, he wasn’t qualified as the right man for the job.
“Ummm… Moses? Don’t you think you’re missing something? God created you with that unique challenge. He knew about it when he asked you to take on this assignment. Shouldn’t you just trust Him to take care of those details?”
(God did have a plan in mind, in case you’re wondering. He assigned Aaron to be Moses’ assistant.)
But something about this seems familiar… those words, “God, I can’t do this. I’m too weak. You’ve chosen the wrong person…”
I have been Moses.
Will I also be like Moses in rising to the task and trusting God to bring things together?
The concept of that many slaves escaping Egypt’s power – all at one time – seemed absurd. Apparently not to God, though, and He proved that nothing is too great for Him.
They escaped. It’s easy to think that the Israelites had it all made… God parted the Red Sea for them, after all! Trusting God must’ve come naturally for them after that.
If only God would send us a dramatic, visible sign… then surely it wouldn’t be so hard to rest in trust.
But that’s not how the story goes. No, when Moses came down from 40 days on the mountain with God, the people had built an idol. They needed something they could see and feel – apparently one demonstration of God’s sure power and existence was not enough.
I’ve been just like the Israelites. Demanding a sign, and even receiving one at times… but trust is an internal heart issue. It should not depend on physical proof, because God is not a physical being. He is spiritual, and so must be my faith.
Then there’s Jonah. It’s easy enough to judge him… running blatantly from his calling. His disobedience created a storm for those with him to suffer through.
“Jonah, that was selfish and cowardly. Why didn’t you surrender sooner?”
But wait… I’m Jonah.
That’s right – that’s been me.
How often do I fight surrender in fear, and cause those around me to navigate storms unnecessarily? All because I’m refusing to trust God, lay aside my fears, and walk in the place He is asking me to fill.
In the New Testament, there’s Peter.
We all know Peter. Confident, courageous Peter. Now there are some adjectives I’d like to apply to myself!
But, though I’m a lot like Peter, it’s not those character traits I’m carrying.
Remember the doubting, denying, Peter?
Well, I’ve been Peter. Confident at first…
“Sure, Lord! I’ll walk on the water with you! Wherever you call me – I’m not afraid of any storm if You’re there!”
Then doubting.
“These waves really are higher than I expected…”
and with that, I start sinking.
“Peter, why did you even look at the waves? Taking your eyes off of the One Who called you out there was sure to bring you trouble. What happened to your confident trust that you had when you first stepped out of the boat?”
… yes indeed. What happened to my trust?
I’ve been Peter, and not as a reflection of his better points.
That’s been me, jumping over the side of the boat, striding over the waves with ease, glancing down to see what size of storm I’m gliding through… and promptly sinking.
There’s One character in the Bible Who I can’t find any fault in.
He is the character I desire to be most like, yet I resemble Him the least.
Thankfully He is able to help me become more like Him…
His name is Jesus.
With my focus on Him, I can fight through.
By God’s grace, He will make me a Red Sea crossing Moses, and a wilderness surviving, Canaan entering Israelite.
If I’m willing to be humbled, He can use me, a whale spittle covered Jonah, as His servant.
When I refocus my sight on Him, He will lift me up out of the waves. He will walk with me through the storm and guide me to the shore. He can transform me from a doubting, sinking, mortal, into a courageous worker, just as He did Peter.
Above all, if I keep my focus on Him, He will make me more and more like Himself.
So that I can be Jesus to others.
Notes from My Heartsong 