Mensa Otabil - Don't Resist God (11/01/2025)
Exodus 4:13 and 14 But he said, «Oh my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.» So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said, «Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and look, he’s coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he’ll be glad in his heart.»
The fifth protest-five times Moses pushed God back, and finally, God’s anger was kindled. The Lord is slow to anger. The Lord is forgiving, but when we resist Him for a very long time, we get what Moses received. At this time, the anger of the Lord was kindled against him. God chose Moses, but Moses didn’t want to choose God. He wanted to walk with Moses, but Moses didn’t want to walk with Him. Moses frustrated the grace of God, and in His anger, the Lord responded to Moses, «You say you want somebody else? I’ll give you somebody else. I’ll give you your brother Aaron.» So He gave Moses what he wanted.
Be careful when you persist and persist; when God gives you what you want, it doesn’t become a blessing; it becomes a snare. Aaron was pressured later by the people of Israel to make the golden calf, which became a snare to the nation throughout its history. Aaron and his sister Miriam resisted Moses in the camp. When God gives you something because you treasured it and because of unbelief-because you doubted Him- and He says, «Get what you want,» it doesn’t become a blessing. Be careful of that because sometimes, you know, we pray and pray and pray and insist and persist until God says, «Have your way.» When God says, «Have your way,» it doesn’t become a blessing.
When you read through the Bible, you find that one of the ways in which God judges people is when He gives them up. He gives them up and says, «Do it your own way.» It is God’s judgment. So what God is doing to Moses here is not really His perfect will, but it’s a judgment. When you read through the book of Exodus, you realize that Moses really didn’t have a speech impediment; he was a very confident speaker. He spoke boldly before Pharaoh, " Let My People Go,» and he spoke boldly before the children of Israel when he had the law. He was able to explain the law clearly. He didn’t have a speech impediment, or even if he had one, God was with him and used him in spite of his limitation. Actually, Aaron didn’t play any major role as a spokesman for Moses.
So why was Moses persisting that he needed help? It was because he couldn’t trust God. Sometimes we get to that point where we don’t trust God, and because we don’t trust Him, we ask for things we don’t need. God sometimes gives you what you don’t need, and it becomes a judgment against you. I pray we don’t get to that point in any part of our relationship.
So there are five lessons I want you to take home with you. The first is that God’s grace will find us wherever we are. God found Moses in the backside of the desert; God will find you wherever you are.
Second, when God chooses us for an assignment, we must also choose Him. When God says, «I’m going to use you,» you have to trust Him. It’s not just a one-way path of God wanting to do something with you; you must respond with faith.
Thirdly, God is gracious and kind, but we must not frustrate His grace. If you’re living in sin and doing the wrong thing, and nothing bad is happening to you, you’re going to reach a tipping point like Moses did, where the anger of the Lord is kindled against you. He’s merciful, but don’t take His mercy for granted.
Fourth, when we persist and God allows us to have our way, what He gives to us becomes a snare. It’s not a blessing.
Number five, our God will never, never lead us where His power cannot take us. If God says, «I’m going to use you,» He has already made provision for you. So trust Him, trust Him. Work with Him, live right, obey Him, and He’ll take you places and do amazing things with you.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I choose You to be my guide. I trust You for the ability to do what You have called me to do. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»