Exodus
3:5
Cleanse
Your Mind
Lord,
an independent spirit stands in the way of all You desire to
do in my life. Please forgive me for the distrust that my independence
communicates. Show me how to walk in a dependent relationship
with You today. Give me insight to see the limitations my independence
creates and to acknowledge the limitless opportunities a dependent
faith in You provides. Help me put all my trust in You.
Hear
God’s Word
An
independent spirit is always in conflict with God. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will
hold to one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).
When God called Moses through the burning bush experience of Exodus
chapter three, He encountered a man dominated by an independent
spirit. Every genuine encounter with God confronts our perception
of independence.
Like
a seed thrown on rocky soil, an independent heart has no place
for faith to take root. Moses’ independent spirit is demonstrated
by the number of questions he asked God. Those who are dominated
by an independent spirit are not willing to accept God’s
calling without additional clarification. Moses sought to know
in advance all the specifics so that He could make an assessment
whether he would go or not.
Moses’
first question for God was, “Who am I, that I should
bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).
Moses did not find much assurance in God’s answer, “Certainly
I will be with you” (3:12). He was looking for something
more tangible to take with him. God graciously responded to Moses’
independent nature by answering His questions (3:11,13; 4:1),
and leading him to a discovery of His perfect plan.
Analyze
Your Status
Can
your relationship with God be compared to that of a master and
his servant? Are you willing to obey with little or no clarifications?
Do you see yourself as a child in relationship to his father as
you consider your relationship with God? It is obvious when a
child begins to gain independence because he will ask more and
more questions. Like so many other aspects of life, our motivation
for asking the questions becomes a distinguishing mark.
Money
is not bad in itself. It is the love of money that feeds all evil
(1 Timothy 6:10). Asking questions for the sake of gaining knowledge
is not evil. It is the drive to be like God that always gets us
in trouble (Genesis 3:5). If you are answering God’s call
with a clarifying question, don’t allow your independent
spirit to keep you from responding in faith.
Neutralize
Your Obstacles
Moses’
independence demonstrated itself when he asked God to find someone
else to be His mouthpiece. Despite repeated statements from God
to increase his faith and trust, Moses sought to hold this last
citadel of independence. God gave Moses his doubt filled, independent
requests, and later Moses paid the price for his lack of faith
(Exodus 32:1-10; Numbers 12:1-9).
God
knew Moses’ heart and his independent spirit and it was
for these things that God’s anger burned against him (Exodus
4:14). No man is independent of God although he may choose to
reject Him. God still provides the air he breathes and maintains
the universe in which he dwells. Independence and faith are two
ends of a spectrum that never touch. Faith by its very nature
demands dependence on God. Faith requires trust while independence
seeks to remove the need for trust.
Glean
God’s Promises
Moses
learned from this initial encounter with God to put his trust
in Him alone. When God threatened to remove His presence after
the idolatry of His people with a golden calf, it was Moses who
begged God not to remove it (Exodus 33:15). Moses eventually realized
the importance of a dependent relationship with God. He found
greater confidence by being dependent on God than he had when
he sought independence from God. He learned that God’s faithfulness
to His promises was far more appealing than his self-sufficiency.
Walking in faith offers greater rewards than walking by sight
(Hebrews 11:24-29).
Expedite
Your Decision
Independence
is always in opposition to faith. If you are seeking to be independent,
the path you have chosen is leading away from God, not closer
to Him. The Bible never teaches us that, “God helps those
who help themselves.” In fact, it teaches us just the opposite
(Psalm 101:5; James 4:6). If you seek to please God, you must
be willing to lay aside your independent nature and put all your
trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Study
Helps:
1.
How does an independent nature keep us from living by faith?
2.
What do you find most difficult about living in a dependent relationship
with God?
3.
What promise does God give us to help us abide in a dependent
relationship with Him?
