Moses' Trust in God's Goodness in Difficult Circumstances
Moses' Trust in God's Goodness in Difficult Circumstances
Moses' life is marked by numerous challenges, from his early days as a Hebrew leader in Egypt to his role as mediator between God and the Israelites during their wilderness journey. Throughout these experiences, Moses demonstrates remarkable trust in God's goodness, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable difficulties.
The biblical account of Moses' life highlights his faithfulness and trust in God. According to Hebrews 3:2, Moses was "faithful in all God's house" [4]. This faithfulness is evident in his actions, such as when he left Egypt "not fearing the king's anger" (Hebrews 11:27 [3]). Moses' trust in God is rooted in his understanding of God's character and his experiences of God's deliverance.
One of the most significant challenges Moses faced was the Israelites' rebellion and lack of faith during their wilderness journey. In Numbers 14:13-25, Moses intercedes on behalf of the people, reminding God of his reputation and appealing to his faithfulness [7]. This episode demonstrates Moses' trust in God's goodness, even when the people around him are faithless.
Moses' trust is also evident in his response to the Israelites' complaints and rebellions. When the people face difficulties, such as the lack of water or food, they often turn against Moses, blaming him for their circumstances [1]. However, Moses remains steadfast, turning to God in prayer and seeking his guidance and provision. For example, in Exodus 17:4, Moses cries out to God when the people are thirsty, and God responds by providing water from a rock.
The biblical account also highlights Moses' humility and willingness to rely on God's strength. When faced with the task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses initially expresses hesitation and doubt (Exodus 4:1 [9]). However, he eventually comes to trust in God's power and provision, recognizing that his own abilities are insufficient for the task.
In the face of adversity, Moses encourages the Israelites to "stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord" (Exodus 14:13 [6]). This statement reflects Moses' own trust in God's goodness and his confidence that God will deliver his people. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary notes that Moses' courage in this moment is "one of the sublimest examples of moral courage to be found in history" [6].
Moses' trust in God's goodness is not limited to his actions; it is also reflected in his prayers and intercessions. In Exodus 33:12, Moses prays for God's presence to be with the Israelites, demonstrating his trust in God's ability to guide and protect them [8]. Similarly, in Numbers 27:5, Moses brings the people's cause before the Lord, seeking his guidance and justice [2].
The New Testament writer of Hebrews highlights Moses' faith and trust in God, noting that he "persevered because he saw Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27 [3]). This statement underscores Moses' ability to look beyond his immediate circumstances and trust in God's character and promises.
The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus also reflects on Moses' trust in God, noting that Moses "did not let his courage sink for the king's threatenings; nor did he abate of his zeal on account of the Hebrews' complaints" [5]. Josephus' account highlights Moses' unwavering commitment to his mission and his trust in God's guidance and provision.
Sources
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 1, section 3: by the water. So they laid the blame on their conductor, and made heavy complaints against him; and said that this their miserable state, and the experience they had of adversity, were owing to him; for that they had then journeyed an entire thirty days, and had spent all the provisions they had brought with them; and meeting with no relief, they were in a very desponding condition. And by fixing their attention upon nothing but their present misfortunes, they were hindered from remembering what deliverances they had received fro”
- Numbers “Numbers 27:5 (BBE) — So Moses put their cause before the Lord.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:27 (BSB) — By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 3:2 (BSB) — He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 13, section 3: them. But Moses did not let his courage sink for the king's threatenings; nor did he abate of his zeal on account of the Hebrews' complaints; but he supported himself, and set his soul resolutely against them both, and used his own utmost diligence to procure liberty to his countrymen. So he went to the king, and persuaded him to let the Hebrews go to Mount Sinai, and there to sacrifice to God, because God had enjoined them so to do. He persuaded him also not to counterwork the designs of God, but to esteem his favor above all t”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 14:13: Moses said, . . . Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord--Never, perhaps, was the fortitude of a man so severely tried as that of the Hebrew leader in this crisis, exposed as he was to various and inevitable dangers, the most formidable of which was the vengeance of a seditious and desperate multitude; but his meek, unruffled, magnanimous composure presents one of the sublimest examples of moral courage to be found in history. And whence did his courage arise? He saw the miraculous cloud still accompanying them, and his confidence”
- Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 14:13: 14:13-25 Moses interceded on behalf of his people, reminding God that his reputation was bound up with that of Israel and appealing to his faithfulness.”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 33:12: Moses, having returned to the door of the tabernacle, becomes a humble and importunate supplicant there for two very great favours, and as a prince he has power with God, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. I. He is very earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Canaan, notwithstanding their provocations. The people had by their sin deserved the wrath of God, and for the turning away of that Moses had already prevailed, Exo 32:14. But they had lik”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 4:1: It was a very great honour that Moses was called to when God commissioned him to bring Israel out of Egypt; yet he is with difficulty persuaded to accept the commission, and does it at last with great reluctance, which we should rather impute to a humble diffidence of himself and his own sufficiency than to any unbelieving distrust of God and his word and power. Note, Those whom God designs for preferment he clothes with humility; the most fit for service are the least forward. I. Moses objects that in all probability the people would not hearken to his voice (Exo ”