God has called Moses to do a really big job for Him. Moses is overwhelmed and really wishes someone else would do it. But, after much conversation with God, God makes it very clear that Moses is His man. God promises to bring His people, the Israelites, out of Egypt and back to Canaan, The Promise Land. God tells Moses exactly what to do and say, and He provides all the resources Moses needs to get the job done. Then in Exodus 5-7, we see Moses and Aaron are a faithful team as they carry out God's plan. Unfortunately for the Israelites, things with Pharaoh get a lot worse before they get better.
We know God has a plan to save His people. We know He is concerned about them. We know He hears them. We know God loves them. We also have the advantage of reading the details in retrospect in the comforts of our own homes, so we know things end really well for the Israelites. But in the middle of it all, Moses is scared to death. He follows God's direction, and time and time again, we see that things don't go the way Moses would expect when, after all, he's just doing what God tells him to do.
After his first attempt to speak to Pharaoh, Moses goes straight to God. He's on the verge of freaking out because things are worse now that Moses has gotten involved.
Has that every happened to you? You feel called to do something special for God, and things just don't work out the way you would have thought?
Moses is right on about one thing, though, in today's reading. God is the one with whom we need to share all our doubts. Moses is getting really good at that. Take a look at how God reassures and encourages Moses in answering his questions.
*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project. Click here to read more.
We know God has a plan to save His people. We know He is concerned about them. We know He hears them. We know God loves them. We also have the advantage of reading the details in retrospect in the comforts of our own homes, so we know things end really well for the Israelites. But in the middle of it all, Moses is scared to death. He follows God's direction, and time and time again, we see that things don't go the way Moses would expect when, after all, he's just doing what God tells him to do.
After his first attempt to speak to Pharaoh, Moses goes straight to God. He's on the verge of freaking out because things are worse now that Moses has gotten involved.
22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?
Has that every happened to you? You feel called to do something special for God, and things just don't work out the way you would have thought?
Moses is right on about one thing, though, in today's reading. God is the one with whom we need to share all our doubts. Moses is getting really good at that. Take a look at how God reassures and encourages Moses in answering his questions.
6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country...”
6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”
God reminds Moses that He IS GOD. He wants Moses, Aaron, the Israelites, and even Pharaoh and the Egyptians to know what that means. There are no limits to what He can do. He invites Moses to "watch and see." God wants to use this situation for more than just saving His people.
See, the solution God is going for in this situation with Moses is not so plain and simple. And, I know that's the way God works in our lives sometimes when things don't go the way we wish they would.
God thinks bigger and better than us. He wants us to really know Him, His love for us, and His mighty power.
So when we find ourselves scared to death, on the verge of freaking out, like Moses, we can draw close to God. We can focus more on Him, and He will use our doubts to build our faith through the amazing things He does not only for us, but also for those around us.
A prayer for today-
Dear God,
Thank You so much for showing me Your glory and power in my life and in the world. Help me to recognize Your presence each and every day. Forgive my doubts when things don't look good or when things get worse before they get better. Give me the courage and the faith to trust You. I pray that my relationship with You will fill me, strengthen me, and encourage others to really know and love You too. I pray today that You will be with ____________ today as he/she/they face(s) what seems like an impossible situation. To You, Lord, be the glory forever and ever.
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,
Amen
May the love of Christ fill you today and always,
*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project. Click here to read more.
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