Are you familiar with the saying, “There’s believing and then there’s believing.” The words point out that there are those who say they believe, but only as long as things go well; fair weather followers. The opposite is the ALL IN believer; faithful in hard, difficult circumstances, all the way to the end.
Recently in preparing for my Exodus class I came across a perfect example of “fair weather” believing. It can be found in Ex. 4:29-31: “Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”
Everything looks perfect, doesn’t it? The Israelites “believed” and then they “bowed” and then they “worshiped”. Surely that’s “ALL IN” believing, right? NOPE!
Check out Ex. 7:20-21: “When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.’”
What happened to their believing? Their bowing? Their worshiping? They had been so thrilled when they hear about God’s plan to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. So what happened?
First, their deliverance wasn’t immediate. The Israelites failed to remember that “God’s delays are not His denials.” All too often humans not only want what they want, but they want it NOW! Isn’t it interesting how similar professing believers today are to the Israelites. When God delays, the faith of too many begins to weaken. That needs to change in the Kingdom.
Second, their deliverance suddenly came with an added price that they had to pay. When Moses and Aaron did exactly what God commanded them to do, Pharaoh responded with anger. Ex. 5:10-11 “I will not give you any more straw. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.” They were already slaves being driven by Egyptian soldiers to make all the bricks, but now they had to search far and wide for their own straw.
Third, they had to pay the price BEFORE their deliverance would come. This certainly doesn’t fit with our current culture of “buy now, pay later”.
Conclusions:
1- God is always faithful to His unconditional promises. God’s promise to deliver Israel from Egypt was UNCONDITIONAL!
2- The believing, bowing and worshiping of the fair weathered believer never pleases God. Why? Because God reads their heart.
3- God often sends or allows tribulations/troubles BEFORE sending His blessing.
4- Fair weather believing is NOT saving believing; it is wood, hay and straw that burns up.
5- Often God gives His people a mission which He knows in advance will fail.
6- Outcome is not God’s focus, but rather the faithful obedience of His people.
7. ALL IN believers remain faithful, even when things turn sour with the world.
8. ALL IN believers remain faithful, even when they are attacked by fair weathered believers.
9. ALL IN believers care only about God’s approval, no one else’s.
Mike Sublett is a pastor at Hi-Land Christian Church, 1615 N. Banks St., Pampa, Texas 79065. Email him at pawdad@nts-online.net.
