By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef ABOUT Torah
The resistance we receive, when we express our desire to do HaShems will is difficult to overcome. Even a mature believer is affected by the feeling of rejection that comes when his or her desire to do HaShems will is not accepted by friends and family. In the Torah, it is clear that Moshe also experienced this type of rejection. He was continually fighting the Children of Yisraels resistance to the will of HaShem. Moshe became so discouraged in his struggle that He became disobedient. Bamidbar 20:11-13 states Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, from now on you will not bring this congregation into the land, which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. Moshes disobedience caused him to forfeit leading the Children of Yisrael into the Promised Land. We can also become disobedient when we respond hastily to the resistance that we receive from others. Anytime HaShem is actively involved in our lives, we can expect to encounter resistance. Understanding, how resistance enters our life, is crucial if we are going to avoid responding inappropriately. Shemot makes it clear that because HaShem was moving in the lives of the Yisraelites, they experienced resistance. In Shemot we see that the resistance they experienced came in two forms, which are internal and external.
Internal resistance is the personal struggle that occurs between HaShem and an individual. Moshe experienced this type of resistance. Shemot 4:1 states Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice: for they will say, The LORD has not appeared to you. Moshe was afraid to speak to the Children of Yisrael, because he thought they would not believe that he had spoken to God. This resistance to HaShems will, came from Moshes personal fear of what people might think. Moshe had no physical reason to be afraid. Moshe was basing his fear on what might happen. As a reassurance HaShem gave Moshe signs and wonders to convince the Children of Yisrael that he was truly sent by HaShem. Even with the signs and wonders Moshe was still afraid. Therefore, Moshe tried to convince HaShem he was not a good speaker. Shemot 4:10-11 states Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, who has made mans mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? Because of his continued resistance, HaShem replaced Moshe as the speaker to Yisrael. Shemot 4:15-16 states, the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet you: and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. And you shall speak to him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. Moshes resistance caused him to loose part of his original mission. Therefore, HaShem chose a person who would not resist speaking to Yisrael.
Another type of resistance to HaShems will is external. External resistance always manifests its self publicly. External resistance is intended to intimidate individuals. As a result, external resistance often stops people from fulfilling HaShems will. The Pharaoh is a good example of external resistance. The Pharaoh resisted HaShems promise to make Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov into a mighty nation. Shemot 1:6-7 states Yosef died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. HaShems promise to Avraham was manifesting as fruitfulness to the Yisraelites. Therefore, their numbers were rapidly multiplying. Seeing HaShems sprit move this way in the Yisraelites angered the Pharaoh. Therefore, the Pharaoh applied external resistance by making it publicly known that he intended to kill all newborn Hebrew males. Shemot 1:15-16 states the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. The Pharaoh intended to intimidate the Children of Yisrael and destroy their ability to fulfill HaShems promise. If Pharaohs plan had succeeded the newborn Moshe would have been murdered. As a result, HaShems plan of deliverance would not have been fulfilled, and the Children of Yisrael would not have been led to the Promised Land. The midwives strength of character and faith, allowed HaShem to fulfill His plan through the midwives. As a result, Moshe was not murdered and HaShems promise to make Avraham into a mighty nation came to fruition. The midwives displayed boldness of character by fearing HaShem more then they feared the Pharaoh. Therefore, HaShem blessed them as we can see in Shemot 1:20-21 which states, God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
When HaShem is moving in our lives it is inevitable that resistance will come. As believers we need to understand that this resistance comes in two forms, which are internal and external. Internal resistance is our desire to put our will ahead of the will of HaShem. External resistance is the resistance that comes from an outside source that wants to stop HaShem from fulfilling His plan. To overcome both of these types of resistance we must learn to place the will of Yeshua above our own will. Placing Yeshuas will first makes Him Lord over our life. However, Yeshua warns us that making Him Lord will not be easy. In fact, it is guaranteed that we will encounter resistance from both internal and external forces when we make Yeshua Lord. We can see this in Mt 10:33-37 which states whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a mans foes shall be they of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. It is clear that when we focus on making Yeshua Lord we will need, boldness to overcome the resistance that we encounter.
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