Thursday, May 18, 2006
Moses in the 'university of the desert'
By Tim R. Alanib
Great Bible Character
MOSES was chosen of God.
When Moses was 40 years old, he made his great decision (Exodus 2:11; Acts 7:23; Heb. 11:24-27). This choice was just as definite for him that day as one's turning to Christ is this day. Although God had chosen Moses for a great work, only after Moses turned to God was he truly God's man.
Even at this juncture, Moses had much to learn. He was full of zeal in his newfound joy and determination, but "not according to knowledge."
Moses' first attempt to reveal himself to Israel and become their leader ended in tragic and dismal failure (Exodus 2:11-15). God had chosen him, but he had not yet sent him. How well this illustrates the human attempts to do divine service, which so often ends in futility and despair.
Only when one is conscious of divine sanction and presence, can he do a successful work for God. Always remember, a call to service for God is a call to prepare first! Moses was only half-prepared; he had his formal education, but not his heart and soul training.
Forty years later Moses met God at the burning bush in the Midian desert (Exodus 3:1-4:17). It must have required much patience to understand the "silent years" when it seemed God did not speak; there was little evidence of any purpose in Moses' life. But he had learned his first lesson well-never venture where divine leadings have not promoted! One often wonders, too, what may have been the thoughts of our Lord in His human nature during His "silent years" from 12 to 30, of which we know absolutely nothing of Him or His work.
But they were as necessary to His redemptive work as His last brief years of flaming ministry and popularity, by which we now know Him so well. Possibly the most important part of Moses' preparation for his work lay within the 40 silent years of development in the "University of the Desert."
Moses' commission at the burning bush was the greatest task any human leader ever undertook. He was to be 40 years in accomplishing it, but behind him lay 80 years of training and preparation. He was now ready, but he was far more hesitant to go, even with God's command upon hi, than before, without it. Youth needs to ponder this lesson well -- the greatest work is only down with the best preparation possible.
Lessons to learn
* Many Christians have failed to obey the Lord, giving the excuse that they are inadequately prepared to have an effective ministry. But all the schooling in the world is useless unless the Lord is guiding the Christian and teaching him what to say. It is the Spirit of God anointing what we say -- not how we say it -- that really matters. "For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in God's sight." (see I Corinthians 3:19).
* On preparation
Someone asked H.A. Ironside, "Why should I get a seminary education? You didn't and you're a great preacher." Ironside responded, "God does bless some who don't have an education, but He doesn't bless those who have an opportunity for education but don't take advantage of it."
My father, John Roach Straton, had a reputation as a defender of the faith. A young man had come to him and said, "I want to preach." Questioning him, my father discovered that he had not finished high school, much less college or seminary. So his advice was to complete all three. The fellow replied, "But I believe that God will fill my mouth." Father responded, "Yes, God will fill your mouth if you fill your head first." (Hilyer H. Straton)
Dig the well before you are thirsty. (Chinese proverb)
I will study and get ready, then maybe my chance will come. (Abraham Lincoln)
If your give me 10 minutes to chop down a tree, I'll spend my first two minutes sharpening my ax. (C.S. Lewis)
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