God's Promise: Trusting and Obeying God's Commands

God’s Promises: Trusting and Obeying God’s Commands

In this week's blog post, we will discuss God’s promises and what it truly means to trust and obey god’s instructions. The Biblical story we will focus on this week is the story of Moses and the Israelites in the book of Exodus. If you have not read the Book of Exodus, I want to encourage you to do so!

Book of Exodus

While reading the book of Exodus, I noticed recurring themes such as the importance of trusting in God, obeying his commands, and allowing him to guide you.
Let’s take a moment to understand what it means to trust in God. To trust in God means that you wholeheartedly believe in his capabilities, that his commands will guide you, and that the outcome will be what he promised. When you truly trust in the Lord, there are no doubts or fear, only confidence that those things that God has set out for you shall come to pass. This sort of confidence and trust in God is vital in our faith walk with God.


Let’s talk a little bit about obedience. Growing up, we all had moments when we wanted to do our own thing; we wanted to follow our own path, which may have led us to break the rules or cut corners. We deliberately disobeyed instructions either for our own gain or to meet a need, such as a desire for autonomy. Later on, we realized that rules are in place not to hurt or harm but to lead us down the right path. Sometimes it’s hard to see that in the moment, but when you reassess the situation down the line, you realize that disobeying authority was not the best course of action.

In the book of Exodus, you may have noticed two types of individuals: the “Complainers.” These individuals did not use their experiences of how God worked in their lives, such as God’s miraculous works that saved them and brought them out of Egypt, as guidance or as an understanding that God is their provider and protector. These individuals simply lacked trust in God. This ultimately led them to disobey God.

The Israelites

Reading this book of the Bible not only frustrated me, but it also showed me how much God loves his children and keeps his promises. In this book of the Bible, we see that even through the Israelites’ unbelief, God remained true to his word and kept his promise.

While reading the Book of Exodus, I found myself frustrated by the Israelites' behavior and response to their circumstances. See, in the book of Exodus, God performed miraculous works(Ex. 7:20, Ex.8:6, Ex. 8:17, Ex. 8:24, Ex. 9:5, Ex 9: 10, Ex. 9:22, Ex. 10:12, Ex 10:22, & Ex 12:29) to set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt through 10 plagues, parted the Red Sea, and guided and protected them through the wilderness by taking form as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night (Ex. 13:21). Not once did they did not take a moment to recognize and appreciate all that God had done for them. Nor did they take into account how the Lord provided for and protected them in each challenge or each circumstance they encountered. This realization had me reevaluating my own actions and responses to distressing circumstances. I had to realize that at times I find myself reacting just like the Israelites, complaining, fearful, and ultimately forgetting the times in which God’s guidance and protection led me through each distressing circumstance.

While reading Ch. 14 and Ch. 15, I began to count the times in which I noticed recurring complaints and despair about Pharaoh and his chariots approaching, or about being in the wilderness and complaining because they lacked water; I began thinking about the psychological theories of behaviorism and operant conditioning (We will get into this concept in the next blog post, so stay tuned!). I initially thought, why does God continue to supply each and every one of their needs when there is complaining? We consistently see that giving them what they ask for reinforces their behavior of complaining to receive what they do not have. I always think of the many parenting books I’ve read that encourage readers to catch their child engaging in positive behavior, which will prompt the child to continue it. Thus, while reading, I wondered why God didn’t wait until the Israelites collectively prayed and asked God for guidance or protection? Why did he respond to their complaining? In the midst of that thought, the Lord spoke to me and said he wasn’t responding to the complaining; he responded to the prayers and pleas of Moses. And in that moment, it all clicked: He wasn’t reinforcing the Israelites' behavior(complaining); ultimately, who kept coming back to God seeking answers, help, and guidance? It was Moses’ behavior that he reinforced. Throughout the book of Exodus, you see Moses seek God for guidance and help at each step of the journey to the promised land.

Yet, the Israelites showed a lack of trust in God, even when they witnessed his works and experienced his loyalty, love, and patience. They still wanted to do things their way and disobeyed his command. We can witness one instance of disobedience in the command God gave the Israelites: to have no gods before him (Ex. 20:3). We see this towards the end of Exodus, in chapter 32, when the Israelites used their gold jewelry to form a golden calf.

Moses the “Seeker”

Let’s take a look at what it means to trust in God and be obedient to his command. As you see in the book of Exodus, Moses's journey is one of turning his doubts into surrender as he sought God's guidance and help at every step, from Egypt to Mount Sinai.

Moses wasn’t always the seeker. Through his journey, we see a man filled with feelings of inadequacy and doubt become one whom God has shaped and molded to lead his people. Let’s discuss ways in which we witness God work in and through Moses. At the beginning of Exodus, in which Moses approached the burning bush, God revealed to him who he was and what he had called Moses to do and in response, Moses stated “ Who am I that I should go to pharaoh and bring Israelites out of Egypt”( Ex. 3:10) here we see that Moses is dealing with feelings of inadequacy as well as in Ex. 4:1 and Ex.4:10, when he worried about whether or not God‘s people would listen to him or even believe him as well as his inability to speak eloquently (self doubts). In response to Moses's feelings at that moment, God offered reassurance and comfort. God spoke to Moses and told him that he wouldn’t have to do it alone, that he would be with him to teach him to speak and give the speech he needed to say(Ex 3:12; EX 4:11). And even brought him resources he would need in order to overcome any worries or doubts he may have to carry out God's assignment, such as Moses’ staff. The Lord never gives you an assignment in which he leaves it to you to complete and figure it out on your own. He is always there, waiting for you to seek him out, to ask for guidance, support, or understanding. It’s important to recognize that as long as you obey the instructions given and trust in the Lord, then he will continue to provide encouraging words, reassurance in moments of doubt, and create a way to protect and provide. A verse that helps keep me from attempting to take matters into my own hands and trying to figure it out on my own accord is Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Questions to Ponder Until Next Time:

After the miraculous works of God throughout Egypt, God’s people still didn’t see his works as enough to fully trust him. What’s keeping you from fully trusting God? Is there something you need to see in order to place your full trust in God? What are some of your instructions that God has given you, but there has been a delay due to fear and doubt?

What steps do you need to take in this present moment in order to increase your trust in God?

While in a season in which it was imperative to lean on God. The Israelites decided to complain about their current situation, challenges faced, and all the things they did not have. Do the Israelites bring up a part of you that is quick to complain?

What are some stressors that quickly lead you to complain?

Do you have moments in which you find yourself just like the Israelites, quick to complain when circumstances outside of your control occur? If so, when do you stop complaining and put your trust in God?

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