Try, Try Again!
Part 1 of a Leadership Series: from Exodus 2:11-25
"I can’t do this!" Have you ever had this thought?
I recently had an experience that caused me to loose my footing; my desire to minister, to put myself out there, and to keep moving forward. My mind went to places like:
I don’t have to do this.
If I quit ministry, I would be a much smaller target for criticism.
Am I really called, and even if I am, do I have it in me anymore?
What about you? Has this discouraging storm ever entered your mind? If so, consider Moses.
When he was a baby, Moses escaped certain death. His mother and sister hid him in a basket and sent him down the Nile river and was soon rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter. After he was grown, ‘he went out to where his people were and watched them at their hard labor.” (Ex. 2:11) As a Jew, something snapped in Moses as he watched a Hebrew being beaten by an Egyptian. An uncontrollable desire to rescue and protect rose up within him, and he “killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
The next day, Moses returned to the scene of the crime. Perhaps he wanted to see if anyone discovered the Egyptian, but instead he saw two Hebrews fighting one another. Why would they do this to each other? Didn’t they get enough abuse from their Egyptian taskmasters?
Again, he tried to step in, but one of the Hebrews lashed out and said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14) If Moses were starring as Liam Neeson in the movie “Taken”, perhaps he could have gotten away with his “righteous” vengeance, but in real life, Pharaoh issues a death warrant and the Hebrew man treated him with resentment. With no basket to carry him to safety this time, he fled into the dry and lonely desert.
His wandering led him to his second rescue attempt. Sitting by a well in Midian, he witnessed some brutish shepherds try to drive away 7 women trying to water their father's sheep. True to his character, Moses swept to the women's rescue and then watered their flocks. What a gentleman! Although we don’t know the specifics of how he came to their aid, this time Moses came out on top. These girls were the daughters of a priest, a man with great influence. In response to Moses' kindness, the priest not only welcomed Moses into their home but also gave him his daughter's hand in marriage! (Ex 2:22)
I don’t think Moses could’ve ever imagined how much Pharaoh’s daughter’s compassion would impact his calling. Moses was a rescued man who himself became a rescuer. The impulse to save would be his lifelong calling, but he was just learning how to wisely apply his God-given instincts.
Moses’ hiatus in the desert was simply the training and healing ground to ready the rescuer for the deliverance of God’s people. “During this long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant….So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.” (Ex 2:23-25)
I was profoundly rescued by Jesus as a little girl, so not only do I want to see him rescue others, I want to be part of this process. Whether I get it right or miss the mark, whether I’m treated respectfully or criticized, I’m choosing to move forward. I may trip and fall, but I will try, try again in obedience and love for my Father, and in respect of my Savior who also overcame. Are you with me?
© 2015 by Sharie King. All rights reserved.
That was Sweet, what should I Tweet?
- @sharieking99 I will move forward. I will try, try again in obedience and love to my Savior. Are you with me? http://goo.gl/qbJQ4y
- @sharieking99 Moses was a rescued man, who became a rescuer but he had to learn to wisely apply his instincts. http://goo.gl/qbJQ4y
- @sharieking99 Whether I get it right, or miss the mark, whether I’m treated respectfully, or criticized I’m choosing to move forward. http://goo.gl/qbJQ4y
