Which prophets were reluctant in the Bible?
To be reluctant is to show hesitation or unwillingness to do something. It is common for people from all walks of life to be reluctant to do one thing or another. Prophets of God too are no different. Some prophets of God were reluctant due to humility, fear of rejection, persecution, or the difficulty of the task ahead. Some of them also doubted their abilities or felt unworthy of the task they were to perform for the Lord. Additionally, when the message God tasked them to deliver is challenging or unpopular, they are reluctant to do the Lord’s bidding.
1. Moses
Prophet Moses, a well-known character from the Bible, was reluctant at first when God asked him to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. While taking care of his sheep near Mount Sinai, God called him and gave him the big job of going back to Egypt to free the Israelites. Moses didn’t think he was the right person for such a huge task; he felt unworthy and too small for the task. God told Moses not to worry because He would be with him in the mission. (Ex 3:11-12)
Moses had other doubts too. He was reluctant to pursue the mission, thinking that the Israelites wouldn’t believe him should he go in God’s name, because, in their eyes, he was a murderer who had escaped justice. So, God gave Moses three miraculous signs to prove to the people that he was sent by God. (Ex 4:1-9)
Another thing that made Moses reluctant to accept his calling was his difficulty with speaking smoothly – he stuttered. But God had a solution for that too; He told Moses that his brother Aaron could do the talking for him such that he would be like God and Aaron would be his prophet. (Ex 4:10-17)
Moses’ fourth worry was about his past troubles in Egypt – he had run away when Pharaoh wanted him dead for killing an Egyptian. This fear made it even harder for him to accept God’s mission. However, God reassured him that those who wanted to kill him were no longer alive. (Ex 4:19)
In spite of all these fears and reluctance, Moses went on to bravely take on his mission and successfully led the Israelites towards freedom.
2. Jonah
The story about a man named Jonah from the Bible shows us how sometimes people don’t want to do what they’re supposed to do. God told Prophet Jonah to go to a big city called Nineveh and preach to the people there to repent. Jonah was reluctant to go—not because he was afraid of the people, but because he didn’t want them to change their ways and avoid being punished by God just like how other bad places had been destroyed by God (Jonah 4:2).
Jonah tried to get away from this job by attempting to flee to Tarshish. He got on a ship, but then a huge storm came against the ship because of him. The other sailors on the boat figured out that Jonah was the reason for the storm, so they threw him into the sea. That’s when a giant fish swallowed Jonah.
Jonah was inside the fish for three days until it spit him out onto a beach. After surviving all that scary stuff, Jonah decided he would do what God told him to do after all. In the end, he went to Nineveh as he was told and learned that it’s important to accept your responsibilities and do what you’re meant to do. Reference Jonah 1
3. John the Baptist
John the Baptist was reluctant to baptize Jesus Christ due to his belief that he was unworthy to perform such a sacred act on the Son of God. Recognizing Jesus’s divine nature, John felt inadequate in comparison and expressed his reluctance to baptize Him.
John’s reluctance stemmed from his humility and reverence for Jesus Christ. He understood the significance of baptism and felt unworthy to carry out the ritual on someone he considered to be greater than himself. John’s hesitation highlights his deep respect for Jesus.
Though John the Baptist was reluctant at first, Jesus talked to him and he agreed and went ahead to baptize Jesus. This baptism was an important moment for Jesus because it marked the start of His public ministry. John’s obedience to God’s plan, despite his initial reluctance, shows his faith and commitment to fulfilling his divine purpose. Reference Matthew 3:13-17