What do we do if we don’t want to do things the way God wants us to? What if we’re scared or angry? What if we think we know a better way? What if, in our opinion, God has it wrong?

I want to examine two situations historical believers found themselves in, how they handled them, and what the consequences were.

Story One: Ananias

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord!” he replied.

The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT

First thing I want to point out is that Ananias is a believer, the ESV uses the term disciple. He was close enough with God that he heard God speaking to him. Close, but still just a man subject to fear. I imagine Ananias thinking, Are you kidding me? Don’t you know who this guy is? You’re going to get me killed? Ananias judged Saul based on his reputation. A few verses before this passage we get a good look at Saul’s intentions.

…Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers…

Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Who wouldn’t think God hadn’t thought this through?

God calls him out. He even goes so far as to explain His plan to Ananias, Don’t worry about this guy. I’ll handle his misconduct. You trust me, don’t you?

Ananias did. He chose obedience over fear and murderous Saul became Apostle Paul.

Story Two: Moses

Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV

Here we see God’s chosen leaders dealing with difficult people in a difficult situation. Check out the problem described in the previous verses.

There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?”

Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭2-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This wasn’t their first time complaining. I would judge their faith to be nearly nonexistent. But God had a plan for these rebellious people and Moses had instructions.

These people knew how to push Moses’s buttons and he faltered in his obedience, acting in anger.

The irony is that the whiners got their water, but since Moses was charged with representing God, his disobedience resulted in his prohibition from entering the promised land.

The point in these two instances, is that believers are called to obedience and trust, not to judge how God uses us in the lives of the nonbeliever or the disobedient.

God has a greater plan for each of us. We may need to school our fear or our anger to follow His lead. It may help to hold this scripture in your heart:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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