Moses a child of a Hebrew slave was put in a basket and on the River Nile by his mother Jochebed and sister Miriam. They wanted to protect his life from the hedious command of the Pharoah to kill all Hebrew male babies. He was found by Pharoah's daughter who was childless. She brought baby Moses up as her adopted son. He grew up in Pharoah's palace as one of the royal family members . He was trained in all art forms and to be a warrior as skilled as any Egyptian and even more. He had the best teachers and had the highest form of education just as everyone in the royal family. He did not lack anything. All that Pharoah had, Moses enjoyed. He was given much power by Pharoah. Albeit, Moses was aware of his Hebraic roots. His heart was tender towards his own people.
At the age of 40, things took a sudden turn. Moses killed an Egyptian slavemaster who smote a Hebrew slave cruelly. Then Moses, fearing for his life had to flee Egypt, leaving all he had behind. His entire life, all that he achieved, all that he earned, all that was his, power, prestige, wealth, everything had to be left behind when he fled across the Red Sea to Midian.
In Midian which was a mountainous and desert area Moses the Egyptian prince, became a shepherd for Jethro, a Midianite priest whose daughter Zipporah he later married. He religiously tended sheep for the next 40 years till he was 80yrs of age.
How would Moses have felt? How would you have felt if you were Moses? Someone who was up there, someone who had everything in life, power, pride, prestige and everything life could ever offer, now was a nobody, down under with nothing he can call his own, humbly tending sheep for a Midian priest. All his education was wasted. All the arts he learned, horse riding, sword fighting, archery, chariot racing, etc was of no use here.
Would Moses have thought, "Why did I have to study so hard and spend time learning all those skills? Was it all for this; sheep tending? Where is God? Why is this happening to me? I really messed things up by killing the Egyptian slave driver. Now I am an outlaw in the eyes of my adopted family and a murderer in the eyes of my own people. Why was I even born?"
If it was me or you, we may have asked such questions. We may even have sunk deep into depression crying over our 'wasted life'!
Wait a second! Was the life of Moses wasted? Was all that he learned for the first 40yrs in Egypt wasted? No it was not. God was preparing Moses big time for a gigantic responsibility He was going to hand over to him. For the first 40 years, God was moulding Moses' physique and mind thus preparing Moses to be strong and fearless, to have self worth, to be educated and gain all the knowledge he would ever need to be able to become an efficient leader. The next 40 years, God was dealing with the heart of Moses. He was teaching Moses humility, preparing him to be a servant leader in the heat of the desert.
Once the full preparation was completed,
God Himself came to Moses in the form of fire in a bush. He told Moses the plan He had for him and God's people who were slaves in Egypt. God wanted Moses to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptian slavery. That was the gigantic responsibility God was preparing Moses for.
By this time Moses was 80 yrs old and had lost all his youthful vigour and zest but he was humble in heart and that was what God was looking for. A person humble enough to trust God and obey Him. The rest, youthfulness and strength God could renew anytime, because He is God.
Moses did not believe that he was the right person for this job. He did not believe in himself. But God believed in what Moses could do, not with his own strength but with His, God's strength. So God offered His own presence to be with Moses and His own Words to be in the mouth of Moses.
Exodus 3:12 ESV
He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
Exodus 4:12 ESV
Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
The rest is history. God renewed Moses' strength, was with Him throughout the Egyptian rescue operation performing amazing and extraordinary miracles, in the wilderness making a way in the Red Sea and till Moses went to be with God.
The rescue operation was a success because God was with Moses and because Moses learned to trust God and allowed himself to be used by God.
Child of God, are you disillusioned? Do you feel that your life has been wasted? Have you messed things up? Do you wonder where God is and why He is allowing all this in your life? Fret not. Remember that you are in God's plan and God has been moulding and shaping you through it all. You who believe in Jesus, know that He suffered and died for your sins and sickness and shame and rose again victoriously in 3 days defeating every battle that you are facing now. He knows what you are going through. Trust Him and obey Him. He will lead you safely to victory if you will walk with Him in His presence. He will renew your strength and restore all that you have lost.
Moses who was supposed to have been a nobody, a Hebrew slave's boy, was picked up by God and transformed into the greatest hero of the Bible who was involved in changing the history of God's people, the Israelites.
God will transform you too if you will only trust Him and let Him mould you through life's experiences whatever they maybe.
Moses was in God's presence before he went to deliver the Israelites. When he went he refused to go if God was not with him. He was always in God's presence.
Therefore spend time alone daily worshipping God. Spend time in His Word which will nourish and strengthen you. Whatever you do acknowledge God's presence and consult Him in everything. Then you will be in God's plan for your life.
Be blessed as you venture forth.
Mary Augustine
17th June 2019
