Choosing and Chosen
Last week, we examined Exodus 3 and the call God gave to Moses. Out of the burning bush, God spoke to Moses. God told Moses that he had a new job for him. Instead of shepherding and leading sheep, Moses was being challenged to shepherd God’s people, the Israelites. This call was not on Moses’ radar at all. As a matter of fact, Moses was running from such a responsibility. Forty years earlier, Moses had flirted with the idea that perhaps God would use him to lead the Israelites out of slavery. However, when Moses acted on the idea, he failed spectacularly. So, when God interrupts Moses with a revised calling, Moses says no! How could Moses go back to a country where he was a wanted man, a fleeing murderer? How would Moses speak to the most powerful man in the world (Pharaoh) and command him to release God’s people? All of this was part of God speaking to Moses at the burning bush.
Last week, we saw God getting Moses’ attention. Once God explained the mission, Moses refused. I can relate to Moses’ defiance. I can relate to the fact that Moses didn’t jump up and down with excitement when given the mission plan. I can understand why Moses’ reaction was skeptical, reluctant, and scared. Moses made up excuses for why he was not the man for the job. And haven’t we all done the same thing as Moses? At one point or another, we are called to do something, and we experience the same reluctance as Moses. We make up excuses. We say we are not good enough. We think people will say that we are crazy. The truth of the matter is that God has a purpose for you!
God’s vision for Moses was not just to simply allow days to pass by while he watched sheep. There is nothing wrong with being a shepherd, but God had a plan for Moses to do so much more. People often settle for far less than what God has gifted them to do. Shepherding for 40 years prepared Moses to be the leader God was calling him to be. We could go on and on about Moses learning patience, humility, hard work, and many other virtues while he tended sheep, but I want to delve into the idea that God desires for each of us to be on fire in our worship of Him. Remember, our “worship” of God is not restricted to Sundays only. Sadly, most people settle for worshipping small things or even themselves. God has made us to live a life of adventure in His service. Like the bush that beckoned for Moses to draw near and look, God beckons today. God desires to see people live extraordinary lives of purpose and hope. However, many times the reality is that we are surrounded by people who live defeated, passionless, and depressed lives.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it. We have lots of anxieties. Many things cross our paths and frighten us. People are paralyzed by more fears than we can name. How many people live lives while praying: “Please Lord, don’t let this happen; God, I want to serve you, but don’t make me poor; Don’t let me or anyone in my life get sick; God, you really didn’t mean that ____ (fill in the blank) is wrong. I can’t give that up!” God made us, and, therefore, He knows what is best for us. He knows what is not good for us as well. God knows what will truly satisfy our hearts. Truth be told, God designed us to live a certain way, and that way is having God in the center of our lives. God should be our unshakable foundation. Anything else will prove useless and faulty.
The story of Moses has many lessons that we can learn from. Chief among them is that we must surrender to God. When we live a life of rebellion against God, we lose balance. A life based on what we want will lead to failure and destruction. Just as God called Moses, God calls us today. God told Moses to trust Him. God would spend the next 40 years blessing and rebuilding Moses’ broken life. What about you? What storm has blown you away? What quicksand of difficulty is threatening to pull you under? What weight has crushed your spirit? God calls you to bring all of these burdens and issues to Him. Jesus said that He will bear our burdens when we come and follow Him. What will you do? Moses had a huge decision to make. He could run from God, or he could run to God. Thankfully, Moses chose wisely. What will you choose as the purpose and foundation of your life? Choose wisely. Keep looking up!