Lobby reflections

When the God Who Calls You Also Confronts You

Written by

Wambui

in

Digital painting of Moses kneeling before a burning bush, reaching toward a glowing divine figure, symbolizing God’s call and confrontation in Exodus.

The God Who Calls and Confronts

This Sunday, my reflections rest on a passage that has always left me both inspired and unsettled: the calling of Moses in the book of Exodus.

It begins with a dramatic encounter. God appears to Moses in the burning bush, declaring His concern for the Israelites’ suffering in Egypt. It is not a quiet call but one wrapped in divine power and urgency.

And yet, what follows is less of an immediate “yes, Lord” and more of a negotiation:

  • Who am I to go to Pharaoh?
  • What if they don’t believe me?
  • I am not eloquent… please, send someone else.

Doesn’t that sound familiar? How often do we respond to God’s nudges in the same way—with hesitations, excuses, and reasons why someone else would be better for the job?

Moses’ Reluctance and God’s Assurance

God’s patience in this exchange is striking. He reveals His very name—I AM WHO I AM. He equips Moses with miraculous signs:

  • A staff that turns into a snake.
  • A hand that becomes leprous and heals again.
  • Water poured on the ground that turns into blood.

Even after all this, Moses resists. In exasperation, God appoints Aaron, Moses’ brother, as his spokesman. Finally, Moses agrees to step forward in obedience.

Here’s the irony: obedience begins not in our confidence, but in God’s assurance. Sometimes, the journey of faith starts when we run out of excuses.

👉 Where is God calling you despite your hesitation? Is it in your career, relationships, or personal growth?

An Unsettling Twist on the Road to Obedience

Just when Moses takes the first steps toward obedience, Scripture presents an unsettling twist:

“At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.” (Exodus 4:24)

What? After convincing Moses to go, would God really seek to kill him?

It is Zipporah, Moses’ wife, who saves the moment. She circumcises their son, touches Moses’ feet with the foreskin, and God relents. She utters a raw and loaded statement: “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.”

How did she know what to do? How did she discern God’s requirement when even Moses seemed unprepared?

Biblical scholars offer different interpretations:

  • Some argue God was angry because Moses delayed or resisted.
  • Others believe the issue was that Moses’ son remained uncircumcised, breaking the covenant given to Abraham.

Either way, it’s clear: God was serious about covenant obedience. Moses couldn’t lead God’s people while neglecting God’s covenant in his own household.

👉 Lesson: Sometimes, before God uses us publicly, He first confronts us privately.

When the God Who Calls Also Confronts You

Does your life feel like it’s in constant confrontation with God?

  • Struggles that never seem to end.
  • A desire to prosper financially, yet the breakthrough feels delayed.
  • The goal to lose weight or stay disciplined, yet old habits keep winning.
  • A longing for peace, but instead, stress and confusion dominate.

I confess—I’ve been there. Some days I want to box myself in the head for not “getting it right.” Other days I feel like Moses, reluctant, hesitant, or just plain weary.

But maybe that’s the very point. Sometimes God confronts us not to destroy us, but to align us. The confrontation is proof that He’s preparing us for something bigger.

As Psalm 145:3 reminds us:

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”

The greatness of God cannot be boxed in. His dealings stretch us, unsettle us, and push us into deeper reverence.

Lessons for Modern Life

So, what do we do when life feels like one long wrestling match with God?

1. Embrace the Mystery

Faith does not mean having all the answers. It means trusting even when the answers are hidden.

2. Honor the Covenant

Like Moses, we cannot ignore the basics. Our obedience in small, covenantal areas (prayer, integrity, faithfulness) matters deeply to God.

3. Accept Confrontation as Preparation

When God confronts us, it is often because He is shaping us for leadership, responsibility, or breakthrough.

Equip Yourself for the Journey (Affiliate Links)

Sometimes, faith requires both spiritual tools and practical support. Here are resources to strengthen you when God feels both calling and confronting:

Each small step—whether journaling, reading, or realigning your finances—is part of preparing for the greater assignment.

Internal Reflections for Growth

If this reflection resonates with you, I encourage you to explore these related posts:

Each of these reflections points back to one truth: God’s dealings with us are never wasted.

Faith in the Mystery

In the end, the story of Moses reminds us that the God who calls us also confronts us. Calling without confrontation leads to arrogance. Confrontation without calling leads to despair. But together, they lead us into reverence and readiness.

👉 If this reflection blessed you, share it with someone facing their own “Moses moment.” Remind them that God’s confrontation is not rejection, but preparation.

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