How can we overcome personal reluctance to follow God's call in our lives? Setting the Scene “But Hobab replied, ‘I will not go. Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people.’” (Numbers 10:30) Moses had just invited his brother-in-law Hobab to accompany Israel through the wilderness, promising blessing and a share in God’s goodness (10:29). Hobab’s answer—“I will not go”—captures a struggle many of us know: a pull toward the familiar even when God uses others to invite us into His bigger purposes. Why We Hesitate Common threads in Hobab’s response still surface today: • Comfort of the known versus uncertainty of faith steps • Loyalty to family traditions or cultural expectations • Fear of hardship on the journey • A sense of inadequacy or lack of clarity Remember Who Is Calling • It was ultimately the LORD, not merely Moses, extending the invitation (10:29). • Jesus’ call to follow Him echoes the same divine initiative: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) • Confidence grows when we fix on the Caller, not the challenge: “Faithful is He who calls you, and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) Review God’s Track Record • Israel had seen the cloud of glory and the pillar of fire (Numbers 9:15–23). • Remembering past deliverances fuels present obedience: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) • Personal history—answered prayers, unexpected provisions—forms a testimony that counters reluctance. Trade Short-Term Comfort for Eternal Gain • Hobab risked missing the “good” the LORD promised (10:29). • Jesus spells out the same trade-off: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25) • Eternal perspective reframes inconveniences as investments. Move From “I Will Not Go” to “Here Am I” 1. Identify the call—name the specific step God is pressing on your heart. 2. Acknowledge reluctance—bring every fear into the open before the Lord (Psalm 62:8). 3. Anchor in truth—meditate on promises such as Joshua 1:9 and Isaiah 41:10. 4. Act in small obedience—just as Peter stepped out of the boat (Matthew 14:29), take the next visible step. 5. Surround yourself with faith-filled voices—Moses kept inviting Hobab (Numbers 10:31-32); godly counsel sustains resolve (Hebrews 10:24–25). 6. Celebrate progress—mark milestones to reinforce God’s faithfulness (1 Samuel 7:12). Companion Scriptures to Strengthen Resolve • Exodus 3:11–12—God answers Moses’ self-doubt with His presence. • Jeremiah 1:6–8—God overrides youth and inadequacy. • Luke 5:4–11—Peter’s reluctant obedience becomes life-changing surrender. • Romans 12:1–2—Presenting ourselves to God renews the mind and aligns the will. • Philippians 2:13—“For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.” The Bottom Line Reluctance dissolves when the heart is captured by the Caller’s character, convinced of His promises, and willing to trade temporary security for eternal participation in His plan. Hobab’s first “no” need not be our last word; empowered by the same faithful God, we can respond with courageous obedience today. |
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