Life changes. Change is not always comfortable or something we want to do. We like where we are. We are comfy and content. And then things start changing. We get bad vibes from those around us. The things we were doing now make us cringy and feel off. We look around and know we don't belong here anymore, but we like the feeling of the familiar. We feel safe with what we know, even when there is a niggling feeling we should move on. This was happening to Jacob towards the end of living with his father-in-law's family. He knew he was to leave Laban's house. But Laban had free labor and kept cosppmnvincing Jacob to stay. But it was getting increasingly uncomfortable to be there. Genesis 30:25-26 Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Please release me so I can go home to my own country. Let me take my wives and children,f or I have earned them by serving you and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.." Genesis 31:1-3 But Jacob soon learned the Laban's sons were grumbling about him. "Jacob has robbed our father of everything!" they said. "He has gained all his wealthy at our father's expense." And Jacob began to notice a change in Laban's attitude toward him Then the Lord said to Jacob. "Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you."
Sometimes God causes the situation we are in to become like a scratchy sweater. It itches and irritates. Yet we are loath to take it off because it is offering warmth. We don't realize our Father has a better way, so leaving the familiar scares us. Taking a leap of faith and pulling off that sweater seems crazy. What will happen? Will I be warm? Will I freeze to death? Will God let me down? The answer to those questions regarding God ordained change is always "NO."
And that leads to the next tidbit. Trust and obey. We fast forward 400 or so years to Moses. Here we see another servant of God living with his wife's family. Comfortable. Making a good living. Safe. And then God.....LOL As Moses is out tending his father-in-laws flock (just as Jacob had done), he sees a miraculous sight. A bush aflame but not consumed! How could this be?
As the Lord spoke to Moses, He gave him some instructions. Moses was to go to Pharaoh and tell Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. They were no longer to live in Egypt. God's plan was ready to be fulfilled. Well, Moses, like a lot of us made excuses. He was fearful, and felt unqualified. Surely he was not the one for this job. So excuse after excuse came out of his mouth....and God countered back with "I will be with you." Finally the Lord had had enough and just said, "Now go." And the Lord sent Moses and sent someone to help him. (See Scripture below*)
Has the Lord been leading you to a change in your life? Does that change make you fearful? Is the time for something different, a new level, a new adventure presenting itself? The Lord never wants our lives and our spiritual growth to stagnate. Jesus went all over doing the Father's work. And while it may not be a physical location change for us, we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow where He is leading. Fear? Do it afraid. Doubt? Trust and obey. If you make a mistake? God's mercy and wisdom will still be there.
Lord, let us follow where You lead. Please help us to hear clearly, and obey quickly. Help us to go past comfort and familiarity to faith and action. Help us to go past our fear to victory and fruitfulness. Open our hearts to hear Your voice and strengthen our hearts to go forward in our walk with You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Listen. Obey.
*But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” 2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. 3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. 4 Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand. 5 “Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.” 6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease. 7 “Now put your hand back into your cloak,” the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. 8 The Lord said to Moses, “If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign. 9 And if they don’t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground.” 10 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.” 11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” 13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” 14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. 15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”
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