Moses went reluctantly. You remember how 5 times he did his best to decline the assignment to lead Israel out of captivity. (Exodus 3&4) Yet finally, assured that his brother Aaron would be with him, Moses left his role of leading stubborn sheep to assume the role of leading stubborn people.
Now he is ready, prepared by God to be confirmed by the nation of Israel as their new leader and to persuade Pharaoh to let God's people go. He is ready, but it is not yet time. He takes the first steps and finds that God is not going to move as quickly as Moses would like. In fact, God is not going to make this a simple task. God sees the big picture, Moses does not.
Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh with the initial request that he release Israel. The result: Pharaoh commands that things be made more difficult for the people. Moses questions what God is doing and the people in turn speak strongly against Moses. (Exodus 5: 22, 23) Then of course begins the classic confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, in which it takes ten plagues - the awesome demonstration of God's Divine power - to finally weaken Pharaoh's resolve and free the people of Israel.
How often in Scripture we read examples of God's timing: so much slower than the desired timing of his people. How often do His people pray and God answers "wait." How often do His people have to endure difficulties before experiencing God's blessings.
We who follow Jesus (and in the footsteps of those like Moses) agree to go when and where God directs us - across the street or across the world. We are not promised it will be easy, nor that the results we expect will come quickly. We go and sometimes (often?) we wait, even without understanding.
This is why it is called a life of faith.
Now he is ready, prepared by God to be confirmed by the nation of Israel as their new leader and to persuade Pharaoh to let God's people go. He is ready, but it is not yet time. He takes the first steps and finds that God is not going to move as quickly as Moses would like. In fact, God is not going to make this a simple task. God sees the big picture, Moses does not.
Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh with the initial request that he release Israel. The result: Pharaoh commands that things be made more difficult for the people. Moses questions what God is doing and the people in turn speak strongly against Moses. (Exodus 5: 22, 23) Then of course begins the classic confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, in which it takes ten plagues - the awesome demonstration of God's Divine power - to finally weaken Pharaoh's resolve and free the people of Israel.
How often in Scripture we read examples of God's timing: so much slower than the desired timing of his people. How often do His people pray and God answers "wait." How often do His people have to endure difficulties before experiencing God's blessings.
We who follow Jesus (and in the footsteps of those like Moses) agree to go when and where God directs us - across the street or across the world. We are not promised it will be easy, nor that the results we expect will come quickly. We go and sometimes (often?) we wait, even without understanding.
This is why it is called a life of faith.
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