Are your problems bigger than your belief? Let’s take a look at David and Goliath to readjust our attitude

Have you ever looked at a situation and had it overshadow your faith in God‘s ability to overcome it? Don’t worry, it’s happened to all of us at one time in our lives. So to help you to regain your faith in God, and to give you the strength to fight the battles in your life, I’ve summarized the story of David and Goliath below. To read the story in it’s entirety, go to 1st Samuel. At the end of this saga, I want you to consider a few questions to help you through your struggles. Use what David went through as an example of how to tackle the difficult times in your life. The obstacles in your life are nothing but Goliaths, and you are the David. Pray on them, gird up, and put that rock right between the eyes of your situation. Having said that, here we go my friends……

The Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel. The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and wearing full armor came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, and the whole army were terrified of Goliath.

One day David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to the battle lines by his father to bring back news of his brothers. David was probably just a young teenager at the time. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?”

So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David fight against the giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd’s staff, slingshot and a pouch full of stones, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and insults.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied … today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air … and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel … it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath’s head. Finding a hole in the armor, the stone sank into the giant’s forehead and he fell face down on the ground. David then took Goliath’s sword, killed him and then cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. So the Israelites pursued, chasing and killing them and plundering their camp.

Points of Interest from the David and Goliath Story:

• Why did they wait forty days to begin the battle? Probably for several reasons. Everyone was afraid of Goliath. He seemed invincible. Not even King Saul, the tallest man in Israel, had stepped out to fight. Also, the sides of the valley were very steep. Whoever made the first move would have a strong disadvantage and probably suffer great loss. Both sides were waiting for the other to attack first.

• David chose not to wear the King’s armor because it felt cumbersome and unfamiliar. David was comfortable with his simple slingshot, a weapon he was skilled at using. God will use the unique skills he’s already placed in your hands, so don’t worry about “wearing the King’s armor.” Just be yourself and use the familiar gifts and talents God has given you. He will work miracles through you.

• David’s faith in God caused him to look at the giant from a different perspective. Goliath was merely a mortal man defying an all-powerful God. David looked at the battle from God’s point of view. If we look at giant problems and impossible situations from God’s perspective, we realize that God will fight for us and with us. When we put things in proper perspective, we see more clearly and we can fight more effectively.

• When the giant criticized, insulted and threatened, David didn’t stop or even waver. Everyone else cowered in fear, but David ran to the battle. He knew that action needed to be taken. David did the right thing in spite of discouraging insults and fearful threats. Only God’s opinion mattered to David.

Questions for Reflection:

Are you facing a giant problem or impossible situation? Stop for a minute and refocus. Can you see the situation more clearly from God’s vantage point?

Do you need to take courageous action in the face of insults and fearful circumstances? Do you trust that God will fight for you and with you? Remember, God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

How to break up with bad company

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”-1 Corinthians 15:33

It is impossible to live a life that is unaffected by other people. Their attitudes and opinions, like pollen, blow into our lives, shaping our perspective and influencing our decisions. When one godly person’s life sharpens another’s, it’s a good thing. It yields a harvest of mature fruit over time.

But I can think of several instances in my life when I allowed the negative influence of others to sway my better judgment. It started when I was young.

In grammar school: “Come on, we can sneak into the classroom without the teacher ever knowing.” He knew.

In high school: “Don’t be such a drag. The toga party will be a blast!” With so much alcohol available, my friends couldn’t remember what kind of party it was.

In college: “Let’s get pizza. It won’t hurt to skip class today.” Unless, of course, the professor covered topics that weren’t in the book. He did.

As a young married woman: “Don’t you think your husband is too tight with money?” He wasn’t. But I didn’t have enough discernment yet to realize how this older woman’s suggestion undermined my marriage.

Like many things in life, the moments in which we’ve been swayed by bad influences are often easier to see with hindsight. I’d like to think that as a “big girl” now, my judgment and perspective would keep me from being led astray. Unfortunately, I still have blind spots. I’m still vulnerable to being influenced toward ungodly attitudes and actions. The process can be so subtle that I don’t even notice.

Recently at the gym, for instance, another woman who was working out joked with me about people who overeat and remain obese. It felt gratifying to be counted among the “in crowd.” When I got home, however, God’s Spirit convicted me: her “compliment” was really a self-righteous jab at others who struggled—a jab I had agreed with. Our conversation had made me feel good at others’ expense. Even if I usually exercised self-control in the kitchen, my critical tongue could stand to lose a few pounds.

Moments of conviction such as the one I had that day have spurred me to think about how other people’s negative influence works in our lives. The Apostle Paul succinctly described this dynamic in our relationships: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Cor. 15:33). Given this reality, how do we recognize and respond to the people in our lives who may indeed be “bad company”?

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Perhaps the first step is to identify the people whom Scripture warns us to beware of. Proverbs, especially, describes a number of foolish behaviors we would do well to avoid when we see them in others: gossip and division (16:28), anger and violence (16:29), lying (12:22), greed (15:27), and lack of compassion (29:7).

Paul instructed us to avoid another form of influence:

But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

—1 Cor. 5:11

Paul understood that when people who called themselves Christians surrendered to sinful lifestyles, it dulled their ability to discern right and wrong (1 Tim. 4:1-2). They, in turn, drew others into their folly. For Paul, some of the biggest potential enemies to spiritual growth were not those outside the church who were engaged in blatant sin, but those inside it.

At times I’ve been tempted to believe I could easily spot bad company. But recognizing someone’s negative influence hasn’t been automatic for me—just as I realized the day I got home from the gym. Scripture affirms what I’ve experienced: Negative influence isn’t always obvious. Again and again, we’re warned to be on the lookout for wolves in sheep’s clothing, outwardly “spiritual” people who lead God’s children astray (2 Thess. 2:3, 2 Pet. 3:17, 1 Jn. 4:1).

How do we learn to discern? In addition to keeping an eye open for the characters described above, it’s critical to understand how the corrupting power of bad company works and why we sometimes give in to its influence.

In the Company of Sin

In Hebrews we read, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Heb. 12:1). It is the nature of sin to entangle, to trip us up, to drag us down. When we’re around those whose lives are enmeshed in sin, we are exposed to its entangling influence in at least three ways: through the appeal of rebellion, through the desire for man’s approval, and through the inherent pleasure of sin.

The appeal of rebellion. If you have raised a child, then you already know rebellion lies at the heart of man. “No” is one of the first words out of most children’s little mouths. Growing up doesn’t change that tendency. We don’t like anyone telling us what to do—not even God. Submitting our lives to His leadership is hard for us, and it was hard for some of the characters in the Scriptures.

Moses’ cousin Korah influenced 250 Israelite men to reject the authority God had given to Moses and Aaron. Korah didn’t have to work too hard to rally support; he merely stoked the rebellious fire of the men who disagreed with God’s methods for setting up the priesthood. These men joined Korah’s rebellion and suffered the consequences of God’s judgment for doing so (Num. 16:1-35). Korah’s wicked influence proved to be their doom.

The sinful nature of our hearts predisposes us all to rebellion. Like Eve in the garden, we are easily enticed to disobey God through the snakelike influence of bad company.

The desire for man’s approval. Accolade. Kudos. Respect. We all crave the endorsements we believe will validate our worthiness as a person. But when our desire to please the crowd overshadows our reverence for God, we’ve allowed man’s influence in our lives to supercede His. Sometimes the cost of doing so is far greater than we ever imagined. For Saul, the first king of Israel, the price of man’s approval was ultimately his monarchy.

Saul and his army were stationed at Gilgal waiting for Samuel, the priest, to arrive before the great battle. It was Samuel’s responsibility—his alone—to offer the burnt offering to God. But the prophet was tardy, and Saul grew nervous as his jittery army started to scatter. Their impatience influenced Saul to do what was forbidden: offer the sacrifice himself (1 Sam. 13:1-14).

When Samuel arrived, he pronounced words of judgment upon Saul that foretold his fall and the loss of his kingship: “You have acted foolishly…. Your kingdom will not endure” (vv. 13-14). The influence of Saul’s men compelled him to submit to their fear instead of God’s sovereignty. Saul cared more about his army’s approval that day than He did God’s explicit commands.

Likewise, when someone influences us to make a choice we know is wrong, we have, in effect, decided that person’s approval is more important to us than God’s.

The pleasure of sin. Let’s face it: Sin is pleasurable, at least in the beginning. Whether it’s the excessive use of something that we could be thankful for in moderation or the tantalizing allure of illicit pursuits, sin promises to satisfy our deepest longings. Eventually, however, everyone who indulges in sin will pay the price.

Take chocolate for example.

If I were to eat as much chocolate as I wanted (which is a lot), whenever I wanted (which is often), I would be enjoying the sinful pleasure of gluttony. Eating chocolate is not sin in and of itself; my overconsumption of it is. In my case, sin finds me out when I step on the scale.

Usually, sin’s siren song is most tempting when I’m struggling to cope with life. During such times, I must be aware of those who would have me believe the pleasures of sin aren’t worth worrying about. If I comment to a friend that I need to restrain my appetite in this area, and she responds, “Oh come on, it’s not that big a deal,” I need to pay attention to her negative influence upon me.

Going Down?

Sometimes negative influence is obvious because it encourages us to indulge a known weakness. At other times, however, corrupting influence is more subtle. It may not lead to blatantly sinful decisions. Instead, we may have little more than a troubling sense that something isn’t quite right in this relationship.

How can we tell when we’re being influenced negatively? Here are some telltale signs:

• if we feel consistently heavyhearted, agitated, or depressed after spending time with someone
• if we’re violating areas of conviction
• if we’re making questionable decisions that were never options before
• if we’re more lax regarding areas of weakness
• if we’re rationalizing behavior or thoughts that we previously avoided

These neon signs alert us to the possibility that someone’s effect on our lives is pulling us the wrong way.

Influence, Limited

Once we’ve identified someone as a negative influence, the next step is to decide what to do about it. Broadly speaking, I think there are two important parts to our response. First, we need to decide how much to limit our exposure to the person in question. Second, we should seek the protective influence of healthy relationships with other believers and place ourselves under the influence of God’s Word and His Spirit.

Limiting exposure. The first step in dealing with a negative influence is to reduce the amount of exposure we have to that person. I don’t think there’s a set formula for discerning where to establish protective boundaries. Just because someone influences us negatively in one area doesn’t mean she can’t make a positive contribution in another. Because of that, I’ve found it best to ask God how He wants me respond. He has promised that He’ll give me wisdom when I ask for it (Jas. 1:5).

I’ve also learned that limiting a negative influence usually involves one or more of the following steps:

• Setting parameters. We might not have a problem spending time with this person in the office, but we may need to forgo having a drink together after work.
• Distancing yourself. We may need some space for a time in order to decide how to handle the situation.
• Fleeing. Sometimes drastic measures are necessary, and we must flee unrighteousness (1 Cor. 6:18, 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:22). When our soul is in immediate peril because we’re tempted to sin by someone’s bad influence, we simply need to get out—just as Joseph did when he fled the advances of Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:1-12).

Another decision we’ll have to make is whether or not to communicate with this person about our reasons for limiting contact or ending the relationship.

I once had a coworker whose outlook on life was consistently negative. Because I, too, had struggled with pessimism, I knew that spending time with her could drag me down. At first, I chose to avoid her. Eventually, I decided I could spend time with her if others were present to offset her negativity. Relating to her in a group protected me from being overly swayed by her gloom.

In retrospect, I wonder if telling her about my struggle with her pessimism might have been a better solution. Sometimes talking openly with someone about her influence can open the door to a deeper relationship. It might also encourage her to take inventory of her own vulnerabilities.

However, there are also times when it’s best to act without explanation. For example, if we have concerns about a person’s trustworthiness, it’s probably better to limit our vulnerability.

Submitting to positive influences. In addition to limiting negative input, we also need to submit our lives to the positive influences that will protect us.

• Submission to other believers. Who are the good influencers in our lives? Jesus prayed for His disciples to be one just as He and the Father are one (Jn. 17:20-23). He knew that the temptation to follow the crowd would be great; I believe that’s one reason He emphasized unity with other believers. Being in relationship with like-minded friends shields us from the corrupting power of bad company.
• Confession. One way we can express our submission to other believers is to confess our sin (Jas. 5:16). If we’ve repeatedly been drawn into another person’s entangling influence, we may need help to break free.

Confession is an important first step; it frees us from false guilt and gives us an opportunity to recommit to pursuing a holy life. Confession also paves the way for others to protect us where we’re vulnerable through their ongoing encouragement and support.

• Submission to God through His Word and prayer. Joshua 1:8 commands us, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”

When I focus on God’s truth, it transforms my thinking (Ro. 12:2). The Word inoculates my mind against the lies and deception of sin, and I am less likely to make choices that fly in the face of God’s commands.

As we encounter Scriptures that address our temptations and struggles, our response is to submit ourselves to God in prayer. Through prayer, we allow our hearts, minds, and wills to be influenced by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Bad company does indeed corrupt good character. But if we remain vigilant, if we’re honest about our own weaknesses, and if we seek out the protective, positive resources God has graciously given us, we do not have to be drawn into the destructive power of sin.

By God’s grace, we’ll grow in exercising the kind of Christlike influence He wants us to embody in our relationships.

Don’t get too comfortable

The story of the Exodus is a story of miracles – but in the beginning when Moses first showed up in front of Pharaoh to deliver the people of Israel from 400 years of slavery, the Israelites were really tempted and became a little ticked off because of the initial hardships that they had to go through.

Exodus 5:18-23 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.” The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Moses returned to the LORD and said, “O LORD, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

The very people that Moses had tried to help were now leveling their anger at Moses because all of a sudden they were told that they would have to gather their own straw for making bricks. They were concerned about offending their slave-masters, fearing that they would kill them.

The Israelites were so used to their slavery that they didn’t want their lives disrupted even though theirt freedom was at hand. Resigned to this miserable life, they absolutely failed to apprehend or appreciate the freedom that was soon approaching. Yes, there was a temporary price: increased hardship and great pressure would set the stage for their final deliverance.

The same can happen to us. It has often been said “The darkest night is just before the dawn”…

Maybe the enemy senses his impending defeat and pulls out all the stops to keep it from happening. Maybe the Lord loves a good story with a really dramatic and climactic ending and great glory for His Name…in any case –

Don’t let yourself remain accustomed to any form of bondage – look for and believe for the freedom that God has given us through His Son. Expect a life of great victory over sin and demonic oppression – Why? Because that is His promise to us!

The silent killer…complaining

Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked.  Sometimes we get so focused on the “big sins” such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin — but the Lord doesn’t give this sin a free pass — quite the opposite.  It’s a hidden killer!  This sin unleashed a plague that killed thousands of Israelites! [Numbers 16]

Exodus 15:23-26 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

In this passage, we read how the Israelites, who were desperately thirsty, looked only at the fact that the water they had come to was bitter and undrinkable. How quickly they forgot their God who had led them out of Egypt with signs and wonders. They had just witnessed His dividing of the Red Sea and destruction of those who had enslaved them. And yet, so quickly they returned to looking only with their natural eyes at the problem in front of them, completely forgetting the miracle working power of their God! And so they murmured against Moses. But honestly, weren’t they really murmuring against God? Once again, Moses interceded for them, revealing the faithfulness of His God to answer every impossible dilemma and provide for every need; and again, setting them the example: they simply needed to go the Lord!

So often, just like the Israelites, we focus on our desperate situation with our physical eyes, and not with eyes of faith, and then fall into the trap of complaining. And if you’re like me, once I start, it can be really hard to stop…until the Lord stops me, right in my tracks, and He reminds me –- aren’t you really complaining against me?  I have to remember to see that I actually hinder the Lord’s answers to my problems by unbelief…which leads to the sin of murmuring!

Let’s not allow this sin to gain a foothold — because it can easily become a stronghold! The same wonder working God that led the children of Israel out of Egypt, is still at work today — but are we hindering Him? If we are grumbling and complaining, the answer is, “YES”! And in so doing, until we stop, we are missing out on His answers and blessings which are waiting in the wings to meet our faith in Him!

Raising their ugly heads

One of the greatest stories in the Bible is David and Goliath. David, a small boy, conquered the mighty Philistine warrior, Goliath.

And yet in 1 Chronicles 20, years later, David is still at war with the Philistines. It sounds like a recurring issue that won’t go away. I wonder if David ever looked in the mirror and thought, is it me?!

David continued to fight the Philistines because they were against his God and his people, and that was worth continuing the fight. There are some issues that continue to raise their ugly heads in your life too. You need to decide if they are worth fighting for.

It’s good to look in the mirror to see if there’s anything you are doing to exacerbate it, but it’s a good chance to reassess your values too. What is important to you? Is the issue challenging those values? Constantly fighting something can be a drain, but if you consider it important then it can drive you on to greater things.

Moses…would he be considered a good leader by today’s standards?

Moses was one of the Bible’s most famous leaders. He led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and then served competently as a priestly leader. He taught them what was God’s will, prayed for them, and even plead their case before God. We need more men like him in the church. But, is it possible that they are already here but have never gotten a chance? Moses was not a gifted speaker and had difficulty trusting God when he told him he would lead the Israelites (Exodus 4). If Moses were alive today, who would he look like in the church? Would he be the person sitting next to you who doesn’t appear to have a “leadership bone” in his body? In fact, could it be you?

The key to Moses’ great leadership was its anointing and ordination, and not the “perfect packaging” of his personality. Notice how the Lord assured him, “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”(Exodus 4:12). He wasn’t naturally someone who possessed the “leadership goods”, but the Lord worked through him mightily on numerous occasions. Chances are, Moses would be someone considered “weak” by the world’s standards. Fortunately  we serve a God who chooses “what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Remember, it is not in ourselves we find our competency for God’s call, but through his word that we may be “equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).

Today’s passage…But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12 ESV)

Should you hang out with evil people?

Aren’t friends great?! Look around you today and what do you see? Friends—lots of friends! Yes,friends are wonderful. In fact, the Bible says, “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). God’sWord also reminds us that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). If we have a friend who is closer to us than a relative like a brother or a sister, then that person must be very special indeed. And some of us have friends who are just like that, don’t we? They are people in whom we trust people on whom we can always depend, and people whom we genuinely love. Good friends not only are a joy to be with, but they also help us be better people. For example, have

you ever noticed how being around friends who do what is right, who are honest, and who respect others causes us to want to do what is right, be honest, and respect others, too? The apostle Paul once wrote: “No one lives to himself, and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7). You may have heard the old saying “No man is an island,” which makes the same point that Paul was making: people around us have an effect on us, and we have an effect on them. But if friends who act right  can encourage us to want to act right, what might friends who act wrong cause us to do? Have you ever done something wrong because you were with someone else who was doing something wrong? It is easier for us to do something wrong, it seems, if others around us are doingsomething wrong. Moses knew that—which is why he warned the Israelites: “Do not follow a crowd to do evil!” (Exodus 23:2). Moses wanted the Israelites to realize that being around people who “do evil” could influence them to do things that were wrong, too. In fact, the Bible gives us the perfect example of a man who did not choose his companions correctly—and who paid a terrible price for his poor choices.

His name was Solomon, and he was the wisest human ever to have lived on Earth. God repeatedly warned the Israelites about becoming friends with,or marrying, people around them who “did evil.” God told Solomon, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you—because they will surely turn  away your hearts after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2). But Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s warning. Instead, he made friends with evil people, and even married some of their women. Sadly, the Bible says that

“Solomon’s wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God” (1Kings 11:4). Solomon’s pagan wives convinced him to build temples filled with idols to false gods. Eventually, the Israelites began worshiping those gods,too. Because one man chose to associate with the wrong individuals, God’s people abandoned Him—and ended up suffering horribly because of it. This is why, many years later, Paul told first-century Christians, “Do not be deceived; evil companionships

corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The New King James Version puts it like this: “Do not be deceived: bad company ruins good morals.” Yes, it certainly does!

What do you think would eventually happen to me if I started running around with people who smoked, drank alcohol, and used illegal drugs, and never went to church? What effect do you think it would have on me if the friends with whom I associate on a daily basis used curse words, disrespected their teachers at school, took God’s name in vain, and made fun of those who are physically or mentally handicapped in some way? Solomon learned the answers to those kinds of questions the hard way. He ignored God’s warnings to stay away from evil people, and instead chose to not only associate with them, but to marry some of them! As a result, he ended upsetting the stage for his kingdom to be split in half when he died.

God knows what is best for us because He created us! If God tells us in His Word that “bad company ruins good morals,” we need to take His warning seriously and seek to spend time with friends who are “good company” rather than “bad company.” Let’s face it: the company we keep doesaffect how we act. Let it never be said of us that “bad company”ruined our “good morals” like it did King Solomon’s because if that happens, we very likely will miss out on getting to go to heaven. And if that happens, then we will end up in hell where there will be nothing but evil people! Who would want to live there forever?

Moses: Humble or insecure?

English: Moses Pleading with Israel, as in Deuteronomy 6:1-15, illustration from a Bible card published 1907 by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Moses had an amazing early childhood. Born in secret, lovingly abandoned, miraculously rescued, unexpectedly raised,. Moses appears in the Bible as a person with an unusually varied past. We don’t really know a lot about Moses from a child to adulthood, but the man who eventually served as God‘s chosen leader of the chosen people was more prepared to lead than he realized.

Moses’ life covered an amazing 120 years. the first 40 were dedicated to academics and leadership training-Egyptian style. Moses’ second 40 years were spent in the desert, where he practiced leading sheep through the wilderness. Doing this gave him the knowledge to lead people through the same terrain later on. The last 40 years were spent in the stressful role of champion and leader of a nation on the move.

Each phase in the life of Moses started with a crisis. by the time he was 40, his instincts to protect his people were well intentioned, but poorly timed (Ex 2:11-15). He killed an Egyptian Guard and had to run into the desert for his life. there he stayed until God called him. That call (Ex 3:1-4:17) shows us a lot about Moses’ character. He questioned, avoided, and resisted God’s direction. He had lived with the failure and shame of his actions in Egypt for almost 40 years. He had grown used to what seemed like an insignificant role. But God had plans for Moses’ combination of ability and insecurity, a combination that made Moses a humble man.

God used Moses’ experience to hone his character. Moses’ training improved his gifts , his failures deepened his dependance on God, and god made the loving effort to convince Moses of his plans.

God can use our insecurities and uncertainties as effective tools in our lives. they can make us useful in God’s service. God can make strength out of our weaknesses. We might allow them to come between God and us, but god transforms them into part of the living bridge that connects us with the One who loves us most of all.