If I told you I have never been anxious about anything you would easily determine I was lying. Everyone, no matter how strong they may seem, has at one time or another struggled with anxiety. We live in a fallen world and when life is broken it becomes our natural inclination to react in fear. By looking at the Bible we can see that even heroes of the faith wrestle with anxiety.
The incident at the burning bush captures Moses’ anxiety and the LORD’s response to his fears and doubts.
“Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Ex. 3:1-6)
Moses came face-to-face with the holiness of God. Not only is Moses in the presence of a holy God but the holy God speaks to Moses directly. How does Moses respond to this situation? He is afraid. Moses is fearful and in awe.
So why did God appear to Moses?
He says why in Exodus 3:7-10. “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Throughout this article, we are going to look at Moses’ response and God’s answers to the calling God has assigned to Moses.
Question 1: Who am I?
“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11)
Moses’ question was valid. Why him? He was once a Jew immersed in Egyptian royalty. Now, he was a lowly eighty-year-old shepherd in Midian. Who was he to march into Pharaoh’s palace and tell him to free the Israelite slaves? However, Moses was more than adequate for the job because God called him to do it.
God says in verse 12, “But I will be with you…”
In all honesty, I do not know if God’s words comforted Moses. I doubt he knew God—this was his first meeting with the LORD. We, as believers, have more knowledge of God than Moses did. We know that the God who makes promises keeps them. No matter what we face in life and how anxious we get, we know God promises to be with us. You will never be asked to fight any battle alone. It may be fearful and difficult at times but rest in knowing that God will never abandon you.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10)
It doesn’t matter who we are because we know who God is.
God promised Moses that he would not leave him and God gives the same promise to us. No matter what anxieties we battle with, he is our strength when we are weak, he is our help when we are helpless, and he holds us when we can’t keep it together.
“It doesn’t matter who we are because we know who God is.”
My commentary says, “When the Old Testament says that God is ‘with’ someone, it means that God enables the person to do what God has asked him to do.” [i]
So who are you? If you believe in him as Lord and have trust in the Gospel you are his child. When you are a scared child he is a strong father. God is with you and enables you on your best days and on the day you are afraid and want to pull your hair out. God is with you whether he is calling you to free Hebrew slaves or face today’s challenges
Question 2: How about your name?
Moses diverts from himself to acknowledge God.
“Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Ex. 3:13)
My commentary also says, “Since Egyptians believed in many gods, it was essential to know the identity of the one true God. In ancient times, to know a person’s name was to know something very essential about that person. Though Moses is apparently not familiar with God’s name, this does not mean that the personal name of God was unknown to the Hebrews.”
God’s name, I AM, is the same as Yahweh the LORD in all caps. I AM also means I AM WHAT I AM or I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.
John Piper wrote an article about God’s name I AM. Several points I took away from him are: (1. God exists, (2. No reality exists behind God, and (3. God does not change. [ii] These are several of the most fundamental truths about God that are expressed in His Word.
God exists—God is present. God was present in the days of Moses when Moses was scared to lead. God is just as present today as he was in Moses’ day.
Second, I AM has always existed and there is no reality before God. God is the Creator not the created. Knowing that nothing ever created God can assure us that nothing can ever defeat him.
Before God called Moses—God was. Before God created and saw Pharaoh in utero—God was. Before God formed a land mass later called Egypt and a body of water called the Red Sea—God was. When there was darkness and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters God had his plan for Moses’ life and your life.
Third, God does not change. The same God who created the universe and called Moses is the same God dwelling within you today. When circumstances change for the worse you can rest assured that God is the same.
Moses had no idea who he was talking to. Did he know that I AM was his Creator? Although Moses couldn't understand the weight of I AM’s magnificence, I AM knew everything about Moses. Whether Moses knew it or not he was completely transparent before I AM. The LORD knows all those things about you too. He sees your hurt, your worries, all of those scenarios you create in your head about future events—everything.
“The same God who created the universe and called Moses is the same God dwelling within you today.”
Rest in I AM. The One who created you and has every detail of your future in his hands. He knows and has full control over the life of your spouse, friends, and child. Nothing escapes his eyesight. You are not in control.
The God who parted the sea, and turned a stick into a serpent is the same God you adore and worship. Rest in I AM.
Question 3-What if the People Do Not Believe Me?
Moses has yet another question for God.
“Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” (Ex. 4:1)
God gives Moses other words before this question.
“and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” (Ex. 3:17-22)
As humans, we are oftentimes afraid of the future. We oftentimes just want the assurance of knowing everything will be okay so we can cease worrying.
Here God promises that the elders of Israel will listen to him, Pharaoh would not listen but God would overpower him, and he would deliver the people of Israel. God then gives Moses signs to show the people of Israel if they do not believe.
The first sign is shown in Exodus 4:2-3. “The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.”
The second sign is portrayed in Exodus 4:6-7. “Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.”
God didn’t choose a sign like a rainbow in the sky. Instead, he chose to have Moses experience frightening signs like serpents and leprosy. Perhaps those signs were for Moses before it was for the Israelites. God was showing Moses that he was in control of transforming his staff into a serpent and restoring it to its lifeless self. God was in control of making his hand leprous and restoring it to health.
The LORD was saying I am in control. I have a plan. I'm the one who softens the heart and makes the heart rock solid. Moses, you are part of the plan, you do not make the plan.
Moses did not threaten his calling. He was just called to submit and follow the LORD.
Too often we place ourselves in the position of God. Of course this will cause anxiety because we sit on a throne that was never meant to be ours. This is self-idolatry. All that you are called to today is to submit and surrender. Let God be God and follow what he has called you to do.
Moses asked, “What if they do not believe?” God already said that he would deliver them.
Surrender and submit to God.
“Too often we place ourselves in the position of God. Of course this will cause anxiety because we sit on a throne that was never meant to be ours. This is self-idolatry.”
“remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isa. 46:9-10)
Question 4-What if I am Not Eloquent Enough?
“But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”” (Ex. 4:10)
Most if not all of Moses’ questions and doubts have rational depth to them. While most individuals have a fear of public speaking, Moses' fears are on a deeper level. He had a physical limitation that made speaking difficult. When Moses said he was slow of speech the Hebrew word (kebab) means heavy or burdensome. This limitation was a burdensome weight Moses endured. He did not feel capable and his limitations felt too heavy to answer God’s call.
Read God’s response in Exodus 4:11-12, “Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
If anyone would understand Moses’ challenge it was the LORD. He created Moses yet he chose to allow Moses to struggle with speaking. The LORD knew he would have Moses speak to Pharaoh one day and instruct the people of Israel. Did he not see Moses’ anxiety over his inadequacy or did he understand it the most?
“And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (Jn. 9:1-3)
God created Moses for his glory and was intentional even with his physical weakness.
We will struggle. Maybe it is a speech impediment with Moses, or a sickness, or maybe we feel like we lack intelligence. If it is the Lord’s will he can absolutely heal and strengthen you. Physical or mental limitations definitely cause anxiety. They are heavy and burdensome. Unlike the blind man Jesus healed, the LORD did not choose to heal Moses.
“Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Ex. 4:12)
God did not lift Moses’ burden but he gave Moses something so much better—himself. In the midst of worrying about your physical limitations, or anything else, God is with you through it all. He is with you and can be glorified through your limitations. Rest in him.
Final Statement-Please Send Someone Else
The LORD was so gracious to answer Moses’ questions in the midst of his fears and insecurities. So, knowing that Moses goes to Egypt and parts the Red Sea, this is probably where Moses accepts his calling, correct?
“But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (Ex. 4:13)
This is not the heroic response we were anticipating. However, let's be honest, our response is usually similar to Moses’ general answer. Moses was obsessed with self. His questions were primarily focused on himself rather than God. I make this mistake constantly and it feeds my anxiety.
On a more practical level, I have found the danger of making camp in my head and constantly asking “what if” questions. “What if” questions are not based in reality. Moses had the same problem. “What if they don’t believe me” and “What if I am not eloquent enough?” If any of my fears were to happen I can have confidence that God’s grace would be fully sufficient. The future has already been planned. We can submit to God’s call, rest and pray when fear comes for us and others, and trust in the Creator. Lean into I AM.
I recently heard a story from a pastor who shared that he had rats invade his house one time. He, like most people, called professionals to terminate the rats. For some reason, the professionals were unable to eradicate the rodents. So what did this pastor do? The young man decided to take the matter into his own hands and buy a cheap rat trap from the department store. He would bait this trap and one by one he killed each rat until they were gone.
This is what we are supposed to do with our anxieties. Our human mind and hearts tend to create rats while we are in the process of slaying them. What do you do when you see another rat (fear)? Do you set it on your lap and pet it? That’s what we often do when we dwell in fear. Or, do we run to God with our worries and speak truth over ourselves?
Scarlet Hiltibidal writes, “Anxiety crushes us because it makes us fear the wrong things.” [iii]
To summarize this passage and this article: In the midst of our anxieties and doubts God has still given you a calling, he is someone you can rest in, he is in control, and he has a plan.
Moses was going to do so much more than he could have ever imagined. However, this moment was the beginning of Moses’ worries not the end. He would face times and respond in fear before Pharaoh and the Israelites would nearly drive him mad.
Through the questions and constant fears we face, God is in control and has your life in his hands.
[i] ESV Student Study Bible, Crossway, 2011, p. 100
[ii] Piper, John (2012, September 8). ‘I Am Who I Am’. Desiring God.
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/i-am-who-i-am--2
[iii] Hiltibidal, Scarlet. Anxious: Fighting Anxiety with the Word of God. Lifeway, (2021), p. 85j
