God with us –  the reason for our confidence

God with us is not only the source of our comfort (see previous post) but is also the reason for our confidence.

As Moses approached the burning bush (Exodus 3), we read, “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  So now, go.  I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’”

As you may recall, however, Moses replied: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God simply answered, “I will be with you.”

He didn’t even answer Moses’ question as it pertained to who MOSES was!  It was sufficient to God for Him to answer that HE would be with him.  In other words, the presence of God was a sufficient answer, a sufficient enabling, a sufficient reason to confidently, yet humbly, obey.

My question is: if His presence is a sufficient answer for God to give – why is it so often not a sufficient answer for us to receive?

After some back and forth between Moses and God, we read, “But Moses pleaded with the Lord, ‘O Lord, I’m not very good with words.  I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me.  I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.’  Then the Lord asked Moses, ‘Who makes a person’s mouth?  Who decided whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.’” (Exodus 4:10-12)

Again we see that from God’s perspective, His presence WITH Moses ought to be enough FOR Moses.  The same is true for US, and we must ask ourselves: is that OUR perspective?  Do we consider His presence to be enough?  That task before you, the step of faith He is leading you to take, the job He has provided for you, the people He has called you to reach, to love, to serve, to speak with…. – remember that He is, indeed, with you! Remember that from His vantage point, that is all you need!

We can be confident in knowing that He is with us, not only in that which He is calling us to DO but also that which He is allowing us to WALK THROUGH:

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.  When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior.’” (Isaiah 43:1-3) “‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you.’” (verse 5)

We may feel as though we are going through deep waters, about to be overwhelmed and dragged under. Remember: He is with you.  Some may be walking through rivers of difficulty.  It’s hard, no doubt.  But you won’t drown.  The fire?  It will not burn you.  

He is with you.  That is your confidence.  You can trust Him.