From Potential to Promise: A 5 Day Devotional on the Life of MosesSample

Every message needs a messenger, and when it comes to spiritual things, the message and the messenger become irrevocably intertwined.

While there may have been a time when Moses craved the opportunity to lead his people, that season (in his mind, at least) had long since departed. He was settled in his rural life until a dramatic encounter with the burning and talking bush!

There is such a profound and authentic exchange at this moment. God commands Moses to go, on His behalf, but Moses protests on several different levels. How often do we respond in similar ways to God’s instructions?

We witness the following in this encounter: God’s commands are not options or preferences, they are imperative! God goes with us and we go with God. Our excuses for not going are all answered by God's promise to be with us. Often the sign that God is in something is seen best in the outcome, not in advance.

All Moses’ responses are fear based, but God's responses are faith led. What’s God asking of you that you are excusing in yourself for reasons of fear rather than responding in faith?

Note that His name is not ‘I was,’ or ‘I will be,' but “I AM!” Moses has the greatest privilege of all leadership in the Old Testament. Moses unveils God’s eternal name: “I AM.” Jesus will take this most precious of names, ‘I am’, and apply it to Himself. It is for this reason that the Jews sought to stone Him to death!

God goes on to tell Moses what Pharaoh's response to his demands will be: to let the people of Israel go, so Moses is prepared for all the attacks thrown at him. Remember that previously he had run from Pharaoh in fear for his life, but now he fearlessly speaks up in the whole royal court of Pharaoh and lets the outcome remain in the hands of God.

Before Moses can compel Pharaoh to let the people of God go against his will, he will first have to convince the leadership of Israel that he can be trusted and has the authority to lead this broken people. The only fear worth retaining for Moses is the fear of God and he acts with that reverent awe of God in mind, activating his potential.

CONCLUSION

For us today, it’s a worthwhile reminder that being a follower of Jesus Christ will not necessarily win us a popularity contest. If the Messiah Himself, in all His perfection was often unwelcome and opposed, why should we be surprised that the Church is under attack in the world around us?

Moses' life and leadership have become a picture for us of how to engage with the One True God. His own failures, shortcomings, and fears are not enough to disqualify Moses from the calling to lead his people to freedom. These failures didn't squash his potential or break the promise over his life. We have all been called by God for some form of influence and we are responsible to live out His calling in our lifetime.