Moses' thankless task

I often think that Moses had one of the most thankless tasks in the Bible.  He was called to lead an ungrateful and constantly complaining Israelites out of the slavery which they hated into a Promised Land that they did not believe in.  

The amazing thing is that as they grumbled and complained their way round the wilderness, Moses had one amazing encounter with God after another.  Moses spent 40 days on the top of a mountain with God.  Moses saw God face to face and Moses also saw God’s presence pass by him.  Moses interceded with God for the nation and changed God’s mind.  Moses seems to have really known God and yet he started out so fearful that he argued with God five times not to have to go and talk to Pharaoh.  He had been brought up in Pharaoh’s palace and lived there for 40 years, yet he was so lacking in self confidence, he was terrified to go there again. 

So what happened?   What turned this fear filled man into one who trusted God to deliver a nation? Moses learned obedience and God took him one small step at a time from fearful shepherd to leader of the Israelites and humble intercessor.   God was working out his plan to save his people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from slavery in Egypt and bring them into the land he had promised Abraham centuries before.

The salvation plan began when the enslaved remembered who they were and started crying out to God.  The first thing needed was a leader and God chose Moses despite all his misgivings about his suitability, God knew he was the man.  

When Moses raised all his objections to God, he did not give the job to someone else.  God answered every one of Moses’ objections till Moses had to agree.  God could have given the job to Aaron with his more eloquent tongue but God had another plan for him and this job was for Moses.  God knew what lay ahead and God knew that Moses would fulfil all that he asked him to do.  He had a plan and slowly and carefully he drew Moses along the planned path till Moses could trust God for what lay ahead.  If God had asked Moses to part the Red Sea on day one, he would probably have run away.  Several months later, Moses so knew and trusted God that he had no problem parting the Red Sea and leading a nation into freedom.  

If you doubt God’s plan for your life, remember God knows the path ahead and he is preparing you for what is to come.  You may feel totally unsuited to what God has called you to do.  You may be wondering when you will ever start.  Trust God and learn to be obedient to his promptings one small step at a time.  God is unfolding his plans and his purposes for your life and he really does know what is best.  He knows the gifts and talents he has placed in you.  He knows what you are like and what he has planned is perfect for you.  Trust him.