In Exodus 4, we find an interesting conversation. God has a job for Moses to do and Moses has a bunch of excuses for why he cannot do it. On the surface, this looks like a very straightforward passage, but I want to suggest to you that there is more going on than what we first see. In fact, I think that there is a third voice in this conversation; the voice of Satan. Granted, none of Satan’s words are directly recorded, but I believe his presence is easily recognized by his influence and action.
In this passage, we see one of Satan’s best and most effective tools: “Doubt”. We also hear one of his best and most useful questions: “Really?” Put those two things together and you see the effect on Moses.
“Do you really think anyone will listen to you Moses? Do you really think that this plan will work? Do you really think that you can just walk up to Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world, and demand the release of the Israelites? Do you really think your ‘miraculous signs’ are going to impress anyone? Do you really think you can be a leader? You???? Really?????”
The key to this strategy is that Satan does not have to directly dispute any of God’s promises. All he has to do is get Moses to start doubting and everything else is irrelevant. The truth, of course, is that God can make Moses successful, but if Moses does not believe that, then nothing happens.
How many times I have missed out on God’s blessings simply because I did not take his promises at face value? How many good things could have been done in me, around me and through me that did not come about because I was listening more to the voice of doubt than to the voice of faith?
Doubt will sink us every time. Faith, on the other hand, allows us to work with the power of God.
Everything in our Spiritual life hinges on listening to the right voice.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:5-8).
In this passage, we see one of Satan’s best and most effective tools: “Doubt”. We also hear one of his best and most useful questions: “Really?” Put those two things together and you see the effect on Moses.
“Do you really think anyone will listen to you Moses? Do you really think that this plan will work? Do you really think that you can just walk up to Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world, and demand the release of the Israelites? Do you really think your ‘miraculous signs’ are going to impress anyone? Do you really think you can be a leader? You???? Really?????”
The key to this strategy is that Satan does not have to directly dispute any of God’s promises. All he has to do is get Moses to start doubting and everything else is irrelevant. The truth, of course, is that God can make Moses successful, but if Moses does not believe that, then nothing happens.
How many times I have missed out on God’s blessings simply because I did not take his promises at face value? How many good things could have been done in me, around me and through me that did not come about because I was listening more to the voice of doubt than to the voice of faith?
Doubt will sink us every time. Faith, on the other hand, allows us to work with the power of God.
Everything in our Spiritual life hinges on listening to the right voice.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:5-8).
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