Throughout the whole process of freeing the Israelites from
captivity in Egypt, Moses continues to question God. Moses does seem a bit more
confident at the Red Sea—“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the
Lord” (14:13). However, verse 15 leads me to believe Moses was still quaking
inwardly since God asks, “Why do you cry to Me?” After all the signs that Moses
has seen, and the reassurances he’s gotten directly from God, in Exodus 33 we
find him asking for yet another sign of God’s continued presence and direction
in this plan. This time Moses gets to see God’s back as He passes by the cleft
in the rock. And knowing that the wilderness experience goes on for many more
years, you know that Moses has a lot more times of doubt.
It’s reassuring to know that even the “big name” guys of the
Bible don’t have it all together. No matter how much they’ve seen and heard,
they still question God’s plan (and maybe His sanity!). Apparently God doesn’t
tire of reassuring His children of His love and care. They may be lightly
chided, like Jesus asking the disciples, “Where’s your faith? Why were you so
afraid?” But God never tells anyone, “No, I’ve given you enough signs! Just do
what I said.” At least, He doesn’t say that to those who earnestly seek Him.
Jesus quotes Isaiah’s words says that unbelievers “keep on hearing, but do not
understand; keep on seeing but do not perceive” (Luke 8:10). And Paul says that
God’s “eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived… So they are
without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
But for those who are children of God, He seems to delight
in giving reminders of His love. Like a loving parent, He doesn’t say, “I told
you yesterday that I loved you, and nothing has changed since then. Do I have
to say it again?” No, He’s eager to say “I love you” every day, multiple times
per day, and as often as we need to be reminded.
In the book Captivating,
by John and Stasi Eldredge, they relate the story of when each of them asked
for a simple sign of God’s love and the answers were granted immediately. (I
believe it was dolphins and starfish that they were looking for.) I had a
similar experience a couple weeks ago up in Blowing Rock. In that area of North
Carolina, small, almost perfectly cubical rocks (limonite) can be found and
I’ve spent a lot of time looking. I’ve never found more than one about half an
inch in size during a weekend visit. Well, this particular weekend I was
feeling pretty low, and so I asked God that as a sign of His love He would
allow me to find a good size square rock. I started looking, and within about a
minute I found three, and within the rest of the weekend I found two more. It
seems like a really small thing, but it was the reassurance I needed just then.
I may not have faith that can move mountains, but I do have a God who can move
stones no matter how big or small.
When we start doubting God’s love, the enemy likes to
capitalize on that and make us feel like an isolated, incompetent failure—the
“only one in the world” who questions whether God really cares or really has
the power to change our circumstances. But God isn’t surprised or judgmental
when we say, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” Sometimes He’s just waiting
for us to acknowledge our weakness and ask for His comfort and help.
“Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
