Learning to Trust God {3 Lessons From Our Study of Moses and the Israelites}
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We have been studying ancient history this year, beginning with creation. The past couple weeks we have been reading about the Israelites in bondage in Egypt and then this week about Moses, the plagues, and the exodus from Egypt. I love this section of the Old Testament because there are so many things that can be learned! Below I just want to share some of the things the Lord has been speaking to our hearts about as we worked through our studies of Ancient Egypt.
1. God sometimes takes us to lonely places in our lives so we can realize our need for Him. Moses went from being the prince of Egypt to a lone shepherd. He had years of time alone to help him see his need for God. When God showed up in the burning bush, Moses was ready to listen and fall on his face in humility and worship. I believe sometimes in our lives, God takes us to a lonely place so we will seek Him. In this world of constant social interaction, it is easy to forget about the One we should be interacting with on a constant basis – Jesus!
2. God equips those He calls. Moses held lots of insecurities and self-doubt and yet God chose him and provided a way for him to lead the Israelites to freedom. If God calls us to do something for Him, He will equip us or provide the help we need to accomplish it. God uses our weaknesses to show His power!
3. God shows His power in our lives through our obedience. As the Israelites left Egypt and the glory of God led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, it had to have been confusing as God led them in a non-direct route to the promised land. He led them to the Red Sea which was away from Canaan. The people must have been confused and doubted Moses. Was Moses leading them into a trap? What if Pharaoh changed his mind and came after them, they would have no where to go!
But God knew the whole story. He knew that He would part the sea and allow the Israelites to cross on dry ground. He knew that Pharaoh and his army would be destroyed in the sea. As word came to the Israelites that Pharaoh and his men were coming, the Israelites began to complain to Moses that they would have been better to stay in Egypt than to die in the desert. How quickly we forget too, the bondage we have been freed from. When things get confusing we think it would be better to just go back to where we were. Yes, I am sure Moses heard lots of grumbling and complaining, but they did obey and follow the cloud/fire to the Red Sea as God directed them.
I asked the kids why they thought God may have led them this way. My 10 year old said he thought it was to show God’s power and to test the Israelite’s faith. I think he is right on. How many times does God lead us, we know He is definitely leading us (like the cloud and pillar of fire leading the Israelites), and yet we are confused and doubt. We think we know a better way.
But what God is doing is testing our faith, and getting us to a place so He can show His power in our lives through our obedience. How often do we go our own way, thinking we know better, and miss out on God working in a mighty way in our life?
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