Believe and Proclaim God's Power and Promises...At Any Cost

Imagine how the story of Moses would have changed if he had decided to lower the expectations of what God had promised in order to protect himself from disappointment or failure. In Exodus 14, as the leader of God's people he was in an impossible situation. As a result of following God's direction, Moses had led the people of Israel into an inescapable setting. They were trapped by geography on every side but one. Unfortunately, the only way out was now blocked by the approaching army of the world's great superpower...Egypt. Egypt's goal was to humiliate the people of God, and God himself. Trapped by circumstances beyond his control and ability, Moses had only two options. Declare the audacious promise that God would rescue them by parting the Red Sea, or protect his leadership position (along with his salary and benefits package) by admitting the impossible and surrendering to Pharaoh and the Egyptian army.

Of course, adding to the drama and the difficulty, the people he was leading wanted to surrender. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt 'leave us alone let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Exodus 14:11-12). They saw only the impossible circumstances.



Moses saw the same circumstances, but, unlike the others, he also saw the God who controls the circumstances. So with no thought of the very possible disappointment or failure that he could experience, he boldly declared the promise of God. In Exodus 14:13-14, "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still'." God did show up and fight for them and the people were saved. The Egyptian army was destroyed. God's power and promise were seen and experienced, and Moses was celebrated by the same people who had just castigated him. But the real reward was that he was honored by God.

Like Moses, Christians and the church are called to both believe and proclaim God's power and promises...at any cost. When they do, lives are changed, God is pleased, and the church (and those who make up the church) experience His blessing. We should never dumb down God's power to our level in order to protect ourselves from disappointment. I'd rather fail believing in God's promises and power than succeed by diminishing them. After all, it's impossible to please God apart from faith (Hebrews 11:6).

[change your church for good/the art of sacred cow tipping by brad powell]