Undo What You've Become
March 23, 2009
Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "what is impossible with men, is possible with God."
Too far gone. That's what they say when your situation can't be turned around. At least, that's what they say when it is not possible in human terms. But with God, all things are possible. That is actually how God prefers things, when the situation seems so far gone, that it seems impossible to get out. Hopeless; when you're at the end of human reasoning, unable to make a change in course, this is when God prefers to work. Consider the great leader in the Old Testament, Moses, and his "3 X 40".
Moses had three distinct periods in his life, each lasting roughly 40 years. In the first period, Moses was born and educated in Egypt, raised to be a leader, and one of upper society's elite. He was well-off and a very eligible bachelor. Life was good and there was no way anything could derail him and his progress upward in life. Then, the unexpected happened, one event changed everything. Moses, without forethought, committed murder and was exiled from Egypt. This was the start of his next 40 years.
For the next 40 years, Moses wandered the desert with a strange people, not his own, where he herded sheep. He wore animal hair instead of fine fabrics, the sun burned hotly on his skin, and he was in charge of stupid, smelly sheep. This continued for years. His education seemed pointless, and all his leadership training was truly wasted on those sheep, for FORTY YEARS! Moses was too far gone. Surely, 32 years into herding sheep and Moses must have considered himself in a dead-end situation with a go-nowhere job. There was no way on earth his situation could change. This was it for him.
But you and I know otherwise. After 40 years in a go-nowhere job, and a hopeless situation, Moses found himself talking to a burning bush. (He must have thought the desert sun had finally gotten the best of him). Through the burning bush, God asked something great of him, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses did not want to do it, not because he was being disobedient, but because he thought his situation was too far gone. He may have figured he had forgotten all this education since he had not used it in forty years or that his leadership training was wasted away on sheep. All he knew now was how to lead sheep; his situation was too far gone for the Lord to use him, or so he thought.
Perfect. God wasn't asking Moses to be a charismatic, political change agent. God was asking Moses to lead a wandering people group through the desert. Moses spent his second 40 years in preparation for his third, and last, 40 years. Not using his education or practicing his politics made Moses humble, and it enabled the Lord to work though Moses in front of Pharaoh in Egypt. All Moses' practice leading sheep through the desert was perfect for leading a large people group through the desert.
Moses' situation, though it seemed too far gone, was actually perfect. God knew what He was doing. God had to spend 40 years undoing what Moses had originally become in Egypt. It wasn't Moses' sheep herding career that needed undone, it was his arrogance and pride that had developed from being a son of Egypt. God had to spend 40 years undoing Moses' first training, not the other way around. You may want to undo what you've become recently, but that actually might be what God is trying to do for you. God may be undoing you right now so He can actually work through you in the future.
1. What situation in your life would you like undone?
2. Have you considered God may be undoing something else?
3. Are you willing to be used by God once you've been undone?
Add. Scriptures for Study: Exodus 2-15, Exodus 4:13, Proverbs 18:7, Matt 19:26, Luke 1:37
March 23, 2009
Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "what is impossible with men, is possible with God."
Too far gone. That's what they say when your situation can't be turned around. At least, that's what they say when it is not possible in human terms. But with God, all things are possible. That is actually how God prefers things, when the situation seems so far gone, that it seems impossible to get out. Hopeless; when you're at the end of human reasoning, unable to make a change in course, this is when God prefers to work. Consider the great leader in the Old Testament, Moses, and his "3 X 40".
Moses had three distinct periods in his life, each lasting roughly 40 years. In the first period, Moses was born and educated in Egypt, raised to be a leader, and one of upper society's elite. He was well-off and a very eligible bachelor. Life was good and there was no way anything could derail him and his progress upward in life. Then, the unexpected happened, one event changed everything. Moses, without forethought, committed murder and was exiled from Egypt. This was the start of his next 40 years.
For the next 40 years, Moses wandered the desert with a strange people, not his own, where he herded sheep. He wore animal hair instead of fine fabrics, the sun burned hotly on his skin, and he was in charge of stupid, smelly sheep. This continued for years. His education seemed pointless, and all his leadership training was truly wasted on those sheep, for FORTY YEARS! Moses was too far gone. Surely, 32 years into herding sheep and Moses must have considered himself in a dead-end situation with a go-nowhere job. There was no way on earth his situation could change. This was it for him.
But you and I know otherwise. After 40 years in a go-nowhere job, and a hopeless situation, Moses found himself talking to a burning bush. (He must have thought the desert sun had finally gotten the best of him). Through the burning bush, God asked something great of him, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses did not want to do it, not because he was being disobedient, but because he thought his situation was too far gone. He may have figured he had forgotten all this education since he had not used it in forty years or that his leadership training was wasted away on sheep. All he knew now was how to lead sheep; his situation was too far gone for the Lord to use him, or so he thought.
Perfect. God wasn't asking Moses to be a charismatic, political change agent. God was asking Moses to lead a wandering people group through the desert. Moses spent his second 40 years in preparation for his third, and last, 40 years. Not using his education or practicing his politics made Moses humble, and it enabled the Lord to work though Moses in front of Pharaoh in Egypt. All Moses' practice leading sheep through the desert was perfect for leading a large people group through the desert.
Moses' situation, though it seemed too far gone, was actually perfect. God knew what He was doing. God had to spend 40 years undoing what Moses had originally become in Egypt. It wasn't Moses' sheep herding career that needed undone, it was his arrogance and pride that had developed from being a son of Egypt. God had to spend 40 years undoing Moses' first training, not the other way around. You may want to undo what you've become recently, but that actually might be what God is trying to do for you. God may be undoing you right now so He can actually work through you in the future.
1. What situation in your life would you like undone?
2. Have you considered God may be undoing something else?
3. Are you willing to be used by God once you've been undone?
Add. Scriptures for Study: Exodus 2-15, Exodus 4:13, Proverbs 18:7, Matt 19:26, Luke 1:37
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