October 15, 2014 (Wednesday)
“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26 NLT).
The descendants of Jacob (also known as Israel) lived in Egypt as welcomed guests for many years, but grew in number until the Egyptians feared them, and then enslaved them. They cried out to God for someone to lead them and deliver them from slavery. God sent Moses to them.
Moses had been born and raised in Egypt, and even though he was a descendant of Jacob, was adopted by the royal family, and therefore was a privileged person. He knew that the slaves were his relatives, and when he saw one of them being mistreated, he killed the Egyptian responsible. Feeling rejected by all concerned, he fled to Midian, where he became a shepherd, married and became father to two sons.
While tending the flock one day, he noticed a bush burning without being consumed. Then he heard a voice, calling his name. A conversation with God followed, in which God called him to lead the children of Israel to freedom in another land. Moses resisted the call, offered excuses, but finally accepted the assignment. This information is found in the Biblical book of Exodus, and Moses’ life is recorded there and in the books of Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It is an amazing story. God prepared them to enter the promised land, but fear of enemies there prevented their entrance, and they wandered in the wilderness for forty years until a new generation was prepared to enter.
It was not an easy forty years for Moses. The people became disobedient and rebellious, but Moses remained faithful to God. They sinned against God time after time, but Moses interceded in prayer for them. As the leader God had called, he remained patient and kind amidst very difficult circumstances. Today, thousands of years later, his name is well-known because of his faithfulness to God.
How will you be remembered? Will people speak of your faithfulness to God? Will they talk about how much you loved the Lord? Will they acknowledge your influence as motivation for their devotion to Christ? Will someone say that you exhibited the spirit of Jesus Christ in your life? Years ago a loving pastor by the name of Bryan died, and someone wrote a poem about him:
“I was not born in time to see
With eyes the man of Galilee,
But, oh, I know he passed this way,
For I saw Brother Bryan today.”
Do folks talk about you that way? What will they say when you are gone?