Confident in the Lord

Exodus 32:7-14

“Moses has gone up the mountain. He’s been there a long time. What now? When is he coming back? Is he coming back? 

I’m getting hungry? How long will we be roaming around this place? Why did we leave Egypt again? I know it was hard there, but at least we had food and homes. Why did God bring us out of there just to let us wander lost out here?“

The Jewish people lost confidence in the God who literally just brought them out of slavery with a mighty show of power. It’s easy to look at the story of the Golden Calf and think they were crazy. How could they have forgotten so quickly all the amazing things that God had done for them? What is going through their minds? 

Had things just gotten a little harder than they expected? Maybe a lot harder? Or was it just different than they had thought it would be? 

Here’s what I think. I think we need to remember that, even when we see God work, we are still human and prone to worry and fear. We take one step forward and then doubt that it was the right path. We think we have prayed and discerned and then ask for just one more sign to make sure we heard Him correctly. We often fail to trust and have confidence in our God. We second guess Him and we doubt ourselves. 

Sometimes we think that following God will be easy. Can I ask why we think that? I mean have you seen the cross? Why do we think our Father will only bring us sunshine and roses? Following Him carries trials. In fact, life is hard no matter which side we are on. I think, I’d rather do life with Him, then without. How about you? We have to stay in communication with the Lord. Daily. Talking to Him and listening to Him. Like St. Teresa of Avila says, we gain confidence in Him the more we realize He is wanting to talk with us and help us walk our journey. 

So, let’s not be caught unaware and lose confidence in Him, like the Jews in Moses’ day. When they lost sight of Moses, they started to forget all the blessings that God provided. They turned to worldly things as their god, because it was something they could see and touch. It was an immediate answer. Don’t we often look for those signs? Don’t we strive to take back control of situations if it feels like God isn’t moving fast enough. 

Trust. Confidence. Patience. 

Keep these in front of us so that we don’t turn to any golden calf in our life, thinking that worldly answer will solve our problem.

And just one more thought. Moses did something amazing for those “stiff necked people.” When God was frustrated (and do you blame the big Guy?) and ready to just wipe them out, Moses interceded for them. He stepped in the “breach” to bring mercy for the Jews. In this way, he prefigured Christ and the intercession He would give on our behalf. 

For many we know (and even ourselves), there can develop a gap between where we are with the Lord and where we want to be. It may be a natural space that will fill as we mature in our faith or it may be one that we’ve created ourselves because we don’t have the confidence to step out in faith. 

We need to remember to ask for help when we notice those gaps. Maybe we can ask for prayers. Maybe we can focus our hearts and minds on all the times God has blessed us so that our foundation in Him does not waver. And for all of those in our life that we notice are loosing confidence in the Lord, let’s help them too. Let’s be Moses for them, reminding the Lord and them of all the seas He’s parted for them and the freedom from slavery that He has obtained. 

We don’t have to be perfect, just willing. Moses wasn’t, but God listened to his prayer. Speak up. Stay confident. Bring others with you. 

XOXO,
Barb