Life Lessons from Moses

Posted by Jennifer Baldwin

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

There’s a college football hall of fame located in South Bend, Indiana. Baseball greats are remembered in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. If you’re into rock and roll, Cleveland’s the place you’ll want to visit. And Hebrews Chapter 11 is known as the Hall of Faith, where many of the greats in the Bible are remembered. One of those greats is a man called Moses. Read what’s said about him in Hebrews.

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasurers of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when the attempted, were drowned." Hebrews 11:24-29

Moses was indeed a great man of faith. However, how many of us are called to confront the Pharaoh? How many have had the Lord speak to us from a burning bush? How many of us have stood at the shores of the Red Sea and told to walk into the waters and they will open up to reveal a dry passage? On Sunday, Frank Cirone of Ravencrest Bible School reminded us that even if there are no pharaohs, burning bushes, or seas in our lives, there are three lessons we all can learn from Moses.

"Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." Exodus 2:11,12

Clearly, Moses wasn’t seeking guidance from the Lord, instead, he was looking around for guidance. How often have you done the same thing? Often, our first reaction is to try to fix things on our own by seeking advice from those around us. As we reflect on this, the first life lesson from Moses becomes clear.

1. Don’t seek guidance from those around us, seek it from the Lord.

"Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to the Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt." Exodus 3:10,11

Can you believe it? Moses is getting clear instructions from the Lord and he’s thinking only of his capabilities. “Who am I, that I should go . . .” Think back to a time when you felt you had a call from the Lord, but you resisted because you didn’t think you were able. The second lesson is this:

2. Looking only at our capabilities, we’ll always be fearful. When God gives you instructions, He’ll also give you the power.

"Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, O Lord, why hast Thou brought harm to this people? Why didst Thou ever send me?" Exodus 5:22

Have you ever questioned the Lord? Have you ever been despondent even after you started to follow His instructions. Imagine Moses, confronted with Pharaoh and his armies, called to gather the Israelites and head for the Red Sea. There they were, on the beach with the sea in one direction and the army in the other. Therein lies our third lesson.

3. When we say “I can’t,” the Lord replies “I never said you could.” Instead, step forward and let Him do His work through you.

As you reflect on these three lessons from Moses, take some time to seek a little additional inspiration by reading the story of Ravencrest Chalet. Then, look to the Lord for His direction for you in this life, seek the power He’ll provide, and then step forward and be prepared to be amazed.