Intellectual Belief Is Not Faith

 

God had called Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, and like Gideon, Moses asked for a sign that it was really God directing him before he began.  Once he was sure, he returned to Egypt and met with the Israelites, in Exodus 4:29-31.  “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.  And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.”

 

The people readily believed Moses words, when he promised they would be delivered, but it was just an intellectual belief.  When Moses’ approach to Pharaoh made things worse, they accused them of lying to them in an effort to destroy them as Exodus 5:19-22 describes.  “And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.  And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.” 

 

Hebrews 11:6 defines faith as “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  To the Israelites at this point, the promises to deliver them were something they hoped were true, but there was no awareness of, or commitment to what would be involved for it to happen, much like most people who hope to make a million dollars someday.   When it didn’t happen immediately they gave up. 

 

Even Moses was stunned by the results of his meeting with Pharaoh, as Exodus 5:22-23 states.  “And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.”  He felt like maybe he had made a mistake in thinking this was what God wanted.  Sometimes even the most devoted Christians struggle with a sense of failure. 

 

God explained that he wanted Israel to see his power.  Egypt was at the time, the most powerful nation in that part of the world, and by showing how much greater his power was, they could begin to trust him when other problems arose.  He reminds them of their history, and his past promises, in Exodus 6:1-4.  “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.  And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.  And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.” 

 

Their captivity was just as much a part of the prophecy to Abraham as the promises to give them the land of Canaan.  Now it was time for the next part, when God would give them the land.  He was aware of their suffering, and was going to keep his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as he explained in Exodus 6:5-8.  “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.  Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.”

 

Moses believed God, but the people were so caught up in their discouragement and suffering they wouldn’t listen to him, according to Exodus 6:9.  “And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.”  Moses and Aaron would be forced to act alone the next time they went to Pharaoh because the people didn’t believe it would really happen.  Real leaders act on their faith and set the example, showing others the way even when no one is willing to follow, trusting God to do what he promised even if no one follows.   Israel’s escape from Egypt is more a testimony to Moses’ faith, than to that of the people.