Have you ever argued with God? The “over-spiritual” may be thinking how dare you even think to argue with God, how dare you even type that? To be blunt, one way or another, we all have argued with God without knowing that we are arguing with Him.

The Elephant in the room

First, I think it would be appropriate to address the elephant in the room. Even though we don’t have to be reminded of this, it’s worth starting with so that as we continue, we are all on the same page:

• We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord (Romans 3:23).
• Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me (Psalm 51:5).
• Then the Lord said in His heart, “… the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…” (Genesis 8:21).

Jesus came to earth because He knew we would never get it right on our own. That’s why I am not ashamed to struggle, I am not ashamed to admit that I get it wrong in the eyes of God more times than I can count, and even though I am not proud of it I know that through repentance my shameful moments bring me closer to Him more than anything else. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Confession of a stubborn soul 

Honestly, one of the reasons I love the Bible is that I can relate to it. It’s real, “living and powerful… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Friday morning came around and I had read about trusting God when nothing made sense. My heart was challenged to take Jesus at His word but shamefully not even an hour after that I found myself arguing with God. He assured me that He knew what He was doing about a situation I was thinking about, but stubbornly my heart kept saying “but God…”.  “Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). Have you noticed that every time we want to reject/neglect/or ignore God’s words to us, we are mainly focusing on our weaknesses and what people will think of us?

My weaknesses and the fear of men

I can relate to Moses. Since I was young, I stutter too. I understand why he really didn’t want to face Pharaoh. God, thank You very much for wanting to use me but I can’t speak right, Moses may have thought. And God gently speaks to his weakness: “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord” (Exodus 4:11)? Yes God, You have my weakness covered but one more thing God… I am still afraid of what people may think or say of me; this pitiful fear of men. 
See, if Moses rested in the truth that God had made each and every man’s mouth and that He could indeed speak through him, he could have just did what God asked him to do. “But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand whomever else You may send” (Exodus 4:13). There is nothing wrong with having a concern about something and taking it to God, God, I can’t eloquently speak, can You please do something about it?; “let your requests be known to God” ( Philippians 4:7). The problem is when God addresses our concern and we still have “buts”, either because of our unbelief or just plain disobedience masked as “concerns”.

Disobedience 

“So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses…” (Exodus 4:14). What started as a Biblical thing, which is presenting your requests to God can turn into sin (disobedience). It’s a sin because God has addressed your concern but still you are not listening and following through His commands. Amazingly, the God we serve still wanted to use Moses. It never ceases to amaze me that we serve a God that not only forgives our sins but wipes them out completely as though we never sinned! “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I remember NOT your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

Just like that, as soon as God was angry against Moses, He also had mercy on Him. He still used Moses by the help of his brother Aaron. I am forever amazed by God’s grace and forgiveness! 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; 
and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things.
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalms 103:1-5). 

Faith and Rest

As Friday morning went on and by God’s grace His spirit showed me that I was being disobedient with my buts I had a choice to make: Have faith in what He is saying to me, or keep making excuses which is really disobeying.

I repented of my disobedience and my heart found rest at His side.