Changing your perspective by not “But(t)ing” heads with God

E. Barrett of R3 left a comment on yesterday’s post; a quote about fruitfulness, which spurred a longer than expected response (not that brevity is my trademark) so I decided to “share” additional thoughts on the first half of his comment in a post instead of burying them in a comment.

e. barrett

I have a pretty big decision looming relating to a potential job. The job itself is definitely outside of my comfort zone, but well within my “competency zone”. Part of what I am weighing is this idea of fruit – the job on some levels is scary, but is that enough of a reason to pass up on it? Or is this an issue (to mix my Bible stories) of burying my talent because I’m afraid to use it?

Sometimes I think we overlook these ideas that God expects us to do amazing things (within the context of who we are), because we live in a world that is fine with us staying in the mediocre.

Though we ought to be discerning and careful to not jump headlong into a decision based off of gut reactions, I believe that there are circumstances where God just expects us to react.  Recall Moses from the latter part of Exodus 6 and the first few verses of Exodus 7 as an example…,

The Lord gave Moses a mission of speaking to Pharaoh concerning the release of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt, however Moses looked inwardly and tossed out an objection, based on what he perceived as a shortcoming. Perhaps Moses assumed that he was to oversee the exodus single handedly? Maybe Moses was overly concerned with the details; and in haste spoke up with objection?  All of that is just speculation on my part.  Notice however that the Lord doesn’t sternly rebuke Moses for his doubts.  The Lord continues on and tells Moses that He will equip him (Moses) with a a helper in Aaron.

Exodus 6:26-30
26 It was this same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions." 27 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. It was the same Moses and Aaron. Aaron to Speak for Moses 28 Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, "I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you." 30 But Moses said to the LORD, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?"

Exodus 7:1-2
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country.

Regardless of what we assume to “know” concerning God’s specific plan over our lives (at the personal level, not collective level of humanity), I’m willing to bet that we too tend to view what God lays upon us with a temporal mindset, or from the vantage point of what is within our capabilities much like Moses did. 

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
       his understanding has no limit.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

And so we get back to our sin problem…, in some respects a result of Adam and Eve not trusting in the Lord. Adam nor Eve had the foresight to see beyond their respective decision’s to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, yet God didn’t ask them to exercise such thing, simply to trust in Him (through obedience).

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

Grace and peace be with you.