Walking by Faith: Moses – When the Wilderness Builds Your Faith

Moses thought his story was over before it really began. 

Once a prince in Pharaoh’s palace, then a fugitive in the desert, Moses spent forty quiet years in obscurity. By the time God called him at the burning bush, Moses wasn’t ambitious—he was afraid. He wasn’t confident—he was reluctant. 

And yet, God chose Moses not because of his strength, but because He would be with him. 

Moses’ life reminds us that walking by faith isn’t always bold and confident. Sometimes it looks like stumbling through uncertainty, saying yes even when you feel unqualified, and learning to trust God in the wilderness seasons of life. 

From the Palace to the Desert 

“When Moses was grown… he went out to his people and looked on their burdens.” (Ex. 2:11) 

Raised as an Egyptian prince, Moses knew his true identity. But when he tried to stand up for his fellow Israelites, he ended up killing an Egyptian taskmaster and fleeing for his life. He escaped to Midian and became a shepherd. 

Forty years passed. 

He who once lived in a palace now tended flocks in a desert. He who once dreamed of delivering his people now lived far from them. And yet, this is where God began preparing Moses for the work ahead. 

Sometimes God allows long seasons of silence—not to punish us, but to shape us. 

The Call from the Burning Bush 

“Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people… out of Egypt.” (Ex. 3:10) 

God’s call came in the wilderness—through a bush that burned but wasn’t consumed. Moses wasn’t quick to accept. He protested five times: “Who am I?” “What if they don’t believe me?” “I’m not eloquent.” 

God’s response was simple and sufficient: “I will be with you.” 

Faith doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means trusting that God’s presence is enough. Moses learned that faith grows not when we feel able, but when we lean on the One who is. 

Leading Through Fear and Frustration 

Moses obeyed, and God did mighty things through him. The plagues came. Pharaoh relented. The sea parted. The Israelites walked through on dry ground. 

But the journey had just begun. 

Moses led a people who were quick to grumble, slow to trust, and often disobedient. He faced rebellion, hunger, conflict, and exhaustion. More than once, he cried out to God in frustration. 

“What shall I do with this people?” (Ex. 17:4) 

Still, Moses kept going. He kept praying. He kept listening. His faith wasn’t loud—but it was faithful. Even when he didn’t see the results he longed for, he trusted the God who had called him. 

The Mountaintop and the Mistake 

Moses experienced some of the most intimate moments with God in all of Scripture. He met with God on Mount Sinai. His face shone from God’s glory. He received the Ten Commandments and interceded for the people. 

But Moses also had his failures. 

In Numbers 20, when the people cried out for water, Moses lost his temper and struck the rock instead of speaking to it, as God had commanded. That act of disobedience cost him entry into the Promised Land. 

Even faithful leaders stumble. But even then, God’s grace does not abandon them. 

What Moses’ Journey Means for Ours 

You may feel like you’re in a wilderness season—hidden, uncertain, or worn down by life’s demands. You may feel like your best opportunities are behind you or that your weaknesses disqualify you from being used by God. 

Take heart. 

Moses didn’t lead from a place of strength. He led from a place of surrender. And that’s the invitation for us too. 

God does some of His best work in the wilderness. It’s there that pride is stripped away. It’s there that dependence is built. It’s there that faith deepens. 

Final Encouragement 

Walking by faith doesn’t always mean crossing seas or confronting kings. Sometimes it means showing up in the desert, listening to God’s voice, and trusting that your limitations don’t limit Him. 

God is not finished with you—not in the wilderness, not after failure, not even when you feel disqualified. 

Keep walking. Keep listening. He’s with you every step of the way.