Moses: a person just like us.
One of the greatest leaders in Biblical history was Moses. Even people who don't know the Lord know the name of Moses. He's just that famous. He's known as a great man of strength by most, but if you read The Book of Exodus, you'll see a man that faced the same challenges and insecurities as we do.
Moses had an amazing early childhood. Born in secret, abandonded by his mother so he could live, saved by divine intervention by the daughter of his people's enemy, and raised by the people that enslaved his family. Moses seems in the bible as a person with an incredibly varied past. The mystery that surrounds Moses' growth to adulthood offers hardly any clues, but the man who eventually served as God's chosen leader of the chosen people was more prepared to lead than he realized.
Moses lived to be 120 years old. The first 40 years were spent learning Egyptian academics and leadership roles. The second 40 years were spent leading sheep through the desert (which would later help him lead his people through the same terrain, which made him more prepared to be a leader than he realized). The final 40 years were spent in the stressful role of being a Prophet and the leader of God's people on the move.
Each phase in Moses' life started with a crisis. By the time he was 40, his instincts to protect his people were well meant, but poorly timed (Exodus 2:11-15). He killed an Egyptian guard and had to run for his life into the desert. He stayed there until God called him. That call (Exodus 3:1-4:17) shows us a lot about the character of Moses. He questioned, avoided, and resisted God's calling (sound familiar?). He had lived with the failure and shame of what he had done in Egypt for almost 40 years. He had grown used to a life that was filled with mediocrity. But God had plans for Moses' combination of ability and insecurity, a combination that made Moses a humble man.
God used Moses' experiences to hone his abilities and shape his character. Moses' training improved his gifts, his failures deepened his dependence on God, and God made a loving effort to convince Moses of His plans.
God can use our insecurities and uncertainties as tools in our lives that will further and strengthen His Kingdom. They can, and will, make us useful in His service. God can make strengths out of weaknesses. We might allow them to come between God and us, but God transforms them into a bridge that connects us with the One that loves us most of all.
If you look at yourself in the mirror every day and don't think that God has a plan, or a use, for you, then you need to look at the story of Moses and see how one of the most important leaders in the Bible had the same thoughts and excuses just like we do. God used him, and he can use us.
Looking forward to talking to you tomorrow,
In him,
Pastor Mike.
Moses had an amazing early childhood. Born in secret, abandonded by his mother so he could live, saved by divine intervention by the daughter of his people's enemy, and raised by the people that enslaved his family. Moses seems in the bible as a person with an incredibly varied past. The mystery that surrounds Moses' growth to adulthood offers hardly any clues, but the man who eventually served as God's chosen leader of the chosen people was more prepared to lead than he realized.
Moses lived to be 120 years old. The first 40 years were spent learning Egyptian academics and leadership roles. The second 40 years were spent leading sheep through the desert (which would later help him lead his people through the same terrain, which made him more prepared to be a leader than he realized). The final 40 years were spent in the stressful role of being a Prophet and the leader of God's people on the move.
Each phase in Moses' life started with a crisis. By the time he was 40, his instincts to protect his people were well meant, but poorly timed (Exodus 2:11-15). He killed an Egyptian guard and had to run for his life into the desert. He stayed there until God called him. That call (Exodus 3:1-4:17) shows us a lot about the character of Moses. He questioned, avoided, and resisted God's calling (sound familiar?). He had lived with the failure and shame of what he had done in Egypt for almost 40 years. He had grown used to a life that was filled with mediocrity. But God had plans for Moses' combination of ability and insecurity, a combination that made Moses a humble man.
God used Moses' experiences to hone his abilities and shape his character. Moses' training improved his gifts, his failures deepened his dependence on God, and God made a loving effort to convince Moses of His plans.
God can use our insecurities and uncertainties as tools in our lives that will further and strengthen His Kingdom. They can, and will, make us useful in His service. God can make strengths out of weaknesses. We might allow them to come between God and us, but God transforms them into a bridge that connects us with the One that loves us most of all.
If you look at yourself in the mirror every day and don't think that God has a plan, or a use, for you, then you need to look at the story of Moses and see how one of the most important leaders in the Bible had the same thoughts and excuses just like we do. God used him, and he can use us.
Looking forward to talking to you tomorrow,
In him,
Pastor Mike.
If Biblical Headlines were written by Today's Liberal Media
On Red Sea crossing:
WETLANDS TRAMPLED IN LABOR STRIKE
Pursuing Environmentalists Killed
On David vs. Goliath:
HATE CRIME KILLS BELOVED CHAMPION
Psychologist Questions Influence of Rock
On Elijah on Mt. Carmel:
FIRE SENDS RELIGIOUS RIGHT EXTREMIST INTO FRENZY
400 Killed
On the birth of Christ:
HOTELS FULL, ANIMALS LEFT HOMELESS
Animal Rights Activists Enraged by Insensitive Couple
On feeding the 5,000:
PREACHER STEALS CHILD'S LUNCH
Disciples Mystified Over Behavior
On healing the 10 lepers:
LOCAL DOCTOR'S PRACTICE RUINED
"Faith Healer" Causes Bankruptcy
On healing of the Gadarene demoniac:
MADMAN'S FRIEND CAUSES STAMPEDE
Local Farmer's Investment Lost
On raising Lazarus from the dead:
FUNDAMENTALIST PREACHER RAISES A STINK
Will Reading to be Delayed
posted by Mike Sanderson @ 8:28 AM
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