Moses (Fear)

Internal Struggle

Fear

When God called him to lead an entire nation out of slavery, Moses’s first response was to explain why someone else should go. Every objection he raised came back to the same thing: he did not believe he could handle what was being asked of him.

What Happened?

Moses was a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh’s palace who killed an Egyptian guard and fled to the wilderness to escape punishment. He spent forty years as a shepherd before God appeared to him in a burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and demand the release of the Hebrew slaves. Moses argued, made excuses, and asked God to send someone else. God sent him anyway, and after ten devastating plagues, Pharaoh released the Israelites. Moses then led over a million people through the wilderness for forty years, delivering God’s law and holding the nation together through constant conflict, doubt, and rebellion (Exodus 3-14).

How Did Fear Affect Moses?

Moses repeatedly tried to disqualify himself from the assignment God gave him
He focused on his weaknesses instead of what God had already promised to provide
His hesitation delayed his obedience and required God to address every objection one by one
He struggled with anger throughout his leadership, at one point striking a rock in frustration instead of speaking to it as God instructed, which cost him entry into the promised land
He carried the weight of leading alone until his father-in-law told him he was heading toward burnout
His fear of inadequacy never fully left him, but he kept moving forward in spite of it

The Turning Point

The turning point was not a single moment but a decision Moses made in the wilderness: he went anyway. Despite every objection, every fear, and every reason he had given God to choose someone else, he got up and went back to Egypt (Exodus 4:18-20). That act of obedience before he felt ready is what changed everything. He never stopped being afraid, but he stopped letting fear be the final answer.

The Pattern That Led to Healing

Encountered God directly and personally
Voiced every fear and objection honestly
Received specific reassurance for each one
Chose to move before feeling ready
Built confidence through repeated acts of obedience
Learned to rely on God’s presence rather than his own ability

Practical Steps for Facing Fear

Name what you are actually afraid of instead of hiding it behind excuses
Take the next step before you feel fully ready, because readiness often comes after the move, not before
Focus on what you have been given to work with rather than what you feel you are lacking
Find someone who will hold you accountable to what you said you were going to do
Look back at moments when things worked out despite your fears and let that inform how you face the next one
Stop waiting for fear to go away before you act, it rarely does
Surround yourself with people who see your potential more clearly than your fear does