I have been recently thinking a lot about the difference between
perseverance and
stubbornness, the former having a positive connotation and the latter not so much. Someone who is persevering has the wisdom to see future good beyond less than optimum present
circumstances. In this way, a persevering person does not selfishly seek comfort or convenience, but is willing to make sacrifices and work toward a better good. A stubborn person, on the other hand, lacks (or chooses not to use) his
abilty to see his role in a bigger plan or make small sacrifices no matter how big they may seem at the time. Funny that I see both in myself...
Moses struggled between the two. God gave him a huge job to do (
So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10), but Moses doubted his ability, and worse yet, God's ability, and stubbornly argued with God about the trouble that followed his efforts. David
Guzik, my favorite commentary writer describes their
conversation (how cool would it be to literally have a
conversation with the being of God?!):
(22-23) Moses complains of his station to God.
a. Moses is good in his example of boldly pouring out his heart to God; but he falls short in remembering God's promise.
b. Back at the burning bush, God said: But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. (Exodus 3:19-20) As far as God is concerned, everything is moving according to plan.
i. Even though God had warned Moses, it seems that he had hoped it would all come easy - Moses would ask, Pharaoh would say yes, and God would be glorified. Why else would Moses say, neither have You delivered Your people at all?
c. In this tough time, the same old fears come crashing in on Moses: "I'm not the man God should send;" "God won't come through;" "Pharaoh and the Egyptians are too strong." There was still unbelief and lack of focus on God that had to be cleared out of Moses!
i. "The agony of soul through which Moses passed must have been as death to him. He died to his self-esteem, to his castle-building, to pride in his miracles, to the enthusiasm of his people, to everything that a popular leader loves. As he lay there on the ground alone before God, wishing himself back in
Midian, and thinking himself hardly used, he was falling as a grain of wheat into the ground to die, no longer to abide alone, but to bear much fruit." (Meyer)
ii. Moses probably thought that the dying to himself was finished after forty years of tending sheep in
Midian. But it wasn't. It never is. God still will use adversity to train us to trust in Him until the day we go to be with Him in heaven. (
http://www.studylight.org/com/guz/view.cgi?book=ex&chapter=5&verse=1#Ex5_1)
Moses forgot God's constant promise of deliverance and His power to accomplish it. The difference between
perseverance and
stubbornness is that only
perseverance is from God.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.Romans 5:1-8
Funny that the
perseverance (which is by its nature something to be
achieved but also something to be followed by a greater something) we are able to have through Christ alone is not the end of it. He also wants to grow us in character and hope which will never disappoint us! Amazed once again.
