“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Moses had more than the usual “thumps and bumps” life had to offer. As a baby, to escape death by the pharaoh’s henchmen, his mother set him afloat in a bulrush bassinet down an Egyptian river. Soon he was adopted by a new mother; only seeing his biological parents in his younger years.
He was raised in a totally strange, ungodly culture far from his real family. He often thought of his real parents; how he was raised, and of the Hebrews he had lived amongst. When he saw one of them being beaten, Moses stepped in to protect his Hebrew countryman, and killed the Egyptian attacker.
Because of this, once again, Moses found himself without a family; as he fled the pharaoh’s wrath and the leader’s attempt on his life. There in another strange land, Midian, he faced angry outcries from shepherds keeping women from getting water first. Again, he stood up for the underdogs. He stood up against the shepherds and helped the women get their water. As a reward for Moses’ help, the maids’ tale of his heroism led him to get a job tending sheep. It was a very strange, different land he was now living in. He had come from pauper to prince, and he found himself a pauper again, but employed.
His job of watching sheep was a lonely one. For months he may have been alone on the back-side of the mountains with only the baaing voices of his sheep to break the monotony. It was there, Moses one day saw a sight that changed his life. If it were not for all the “bad things” that had happened in his life, he would not have been at that place.
Moses saw a sight that he had never seen, or even heard of before. Moses saw a bush that was burning. It
burned and burned, but was never devoured by the lapping tongues of the fire’s flame. It should have been a charred pile of ash, but on it burned. As he walked up to the strange phenomenon, God’s voice talked to him out of the green, but burning bush.
Although Moses faced many hard times, it was at that bush that God called him into a special ministry. Because he was where he was supposed to be, Moses became a leader that changed history for himself and for Israel.
Trials and tribulations are not necessarily a bad thing. Quite often they are used to bring a person to the place where God wants him to be, and where God can use him. God used Moses’ difficult times to put the him in the position in which God needed him. God also used trials and tribulations to put other biblical characters in a position where they could be used, including:
- Sarah. If Sarah had not been barren for over 80 years, and then conceived a child, many would not be encouraged that God could do anything.
- Joseph. If the hard times Joseph experienced did not happen, he would not have been in the position to help save his family in the famine.
- Hannah. If Samuel’s mother had not been barren, Hannah never would have had Samuel trained under the priest, Eli, and Samuel may not have been the leader God used to guide Israel.
- Elijah. If there were no drought, Elijah would not have seen God’s provision at the Brook Cherith.
- Ruth. If Ruth’s trials did not occur, she would not have been married to Boaz and been part of the lineage that God used to bring Jesus into this world.
- Paul. If Paul had not been shipwrecked on the island of Melita, the island leader’s father would not have been healed by Paul’s prayers. Also, if Paul were not imprisoned in Rome, many Romans would not have been saved.
- Jesus. If Jesus did not die the horrible death He did, none of us would have the opportunity to go to heaven!
Every person on this earth will or has gone through difficult times. Being a Christian does not exempt one from facing hardships. Sometimes tribulations are brought on by our wrong decisions or lustful desires. Many times, especially for a Christian, the testing times may be used to get us in a place God wants us to be, so that He can get the glory and use us in a way He desires.
Difficult situations are opportunities to let go, and rely on the Lord to help one through an “impossible” situation. Those times are never a time to shake a fist at God, and blame Him for all that seems “bad.” Those times may be the times God intends to change one’s direction in life and use it for His glory!
no not the song I think it is bend me shape me by American breed band
Science can be good if used for good but sorry to say a lot is not .
@David your comment makes me think of a song that goes “mold me make me anyway you want me” . Sorry I cant think off hand the name of the song just that part smiles . Which leads me to think this is what we should ask our Father to do to us .
Now being all three as you say God Man Devil umm maybe so as we are an unpatience race we want the here and now then there is the devil who plays havoc with our minds [ no he cant get in our hearts ] then there is Father looking down on us and maybe thinking hmm they want the here and now no patience okay um okay let us test their strength and let that ole devil play havoc so we will see how the person comes out of this ,,, resist or cave , pray for guidance or set their minds to do what they want , eh? so in a way like children who are given tasks according to age to develop or master each task maybe Father is doing this to us so we will develop more stronger as I do know when we are weakest Father makes us strongest .
@Star…. I think the song is “Have thine own way Lord” Here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSnBbgsecD4
I agree with your assessment of God giving us tasks and tests according to our maturity. Reminds me of the verse from 1 Cor 10:13:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Think on this….. God also gives us gifts as we can handle them. Take for example advances in science. He reveals a thing to someone and we as humans build on it…sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. Take for example the first antibiotic. Alexander Fleming was doing reseach with Staph. Aureus bacteria in petri dishes and discovered a particular mold inhibited the growth of the bacteria. Not sure, but I believe he was the guy that God place in the right place at the right time to make this observation…subsequently, the knowledge was used to produce penicillin…a wonderful antibiotic… We could discuss a lot of other advances similarly. What do you think?
Love It! The life of Moses also shows you that you’re never too old to be used by God! Moses was 80 when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt! I had a sermon tape of a pastor that preached on his 90th birthday!
Isn’t it amazing how God can see the path of our life? I believe, and I feel like you agree, that God is all knowing; so he knows what impact this decision or that will make on the outcome of our life. Also, I feel this is a place where we often limit God, as if he only sees one path…. This is me thinking, but I believe he sees ALL the possible outcomes of your life. Every little encounter every day has the potential to push your path this way or that slightly, thereby changing the future events slightly that might happen.
This piece also makes me wonder about the causes of the things and events that happen in our lives. They must come from one of 3 places:
1. God
2. Man
3. The enemy…Satan.
We might say that our misfortune is from the Devil, or that our good fortune is from God. Perhaps we see some things as being from a mixture of the 3? Was Moses pivotal moment (When he killed the Egyptian) a result of his decisions, Gods action,or Satans? Or a mix? I guess the answers depend on your theological perspective.
This I know: I can look back and see the Hand of God in my life, despite myself. Psalm 37, verse 23 says “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”. I don’t think that God caused the problems in my life, I am going to take credit for that. However, he has used them to mold me and make me after his will.
I hope you all have a great day.
I have often thought about my “limiting” God. I try not to be to presumptive on Him, but maybe I should be more. I am a cautious about doing things without His leadership, which is a good thing, but then again if I went out “on a limb” more, I would see Him work more. It is a balance that I probably never will master. (Too many are too presumptious, and never ask and wait).