March 11, 2023

PLAN/TIME/METHOD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight. The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.” And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.

Exodus 2:11-15 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Moses has been raised in Pharaoh’s house and is about forty years old. He has had the best of everything—food, clothes, education, and opportunity. He knows he is a Hebrew and becomes concerned about the conditions in which the Hebrews live. I believe God had already placed in the heart of Moses a desire to be a deliverer for the Hebrews. The problem was Moses tried to be the deliverer his way instead of seeking God’s way. Perhaps Moses should have learned from Abraham about what happens when you try to accomplish God’s promises through human effort. (Remember Abraham had a child with Sarah’s maid so he could have a son—not a good ending on that one.) When Moses tries to do things his way it turns out bad and he must flee for his life because Pharaoh is ready to kill him. He goes from prince to outcast because of one act that he thought was done in secret. His anger got the best of him, and he acted in anger. Trouble always follows when we act in anger. We can’t accomplish God’s work when we want to call the shots and when we allow our emotions to dominate. We must be willing to yield to God’s plan, God’s timing, and God’s method. I don’t know if God had another plan that didn’t involve Moses’ spending forty years on the backside of the dessert hiding from Pharaoh. Forty years of his life lost because of one moment of anger. Perhaps there could have been another way. As we read the rest of the story, we see that God is able to work even when we blow it and mess up. God can work even through our failures and weaknesses. We make the path more difficult because of our selfishness.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit please help me to yield my flesh to Your control. Help me to seek You for the timing, method, and plan You have for my destiny. Forgive me for the times I have tried to help You out.

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