God had a plan and His plan involved a man.
That man was told about aspects of the plan, but to see it to its fruition, this man had to learn persistence. This man’s persistence highlighted the awesome works of God in fulfilling His plan.
Moses suffered an initial setback when the people of Israel were faced with even more harsh working conditions after the first appeal to Pharaoh to release God’s people. It required persistence for Moses to stick to the task God set for him.
It’s easy to stand back in awe at the works of the Lord that followed. Ten signs of increasing intensity and magnitude. Where the initial two could be copied by Pharaoh’s magicians, from the third sign onwards even they could not compete. Then there was special dispensation for the land in which God’s people were located whilst the rest of Egypt was afflicted. Then there were the clear warnings given of the impending devastation to livestock and the country for people to avoid it. Yet for all these signs of being the greater power and authority, Pharaoh would strengthen his own resolve to not give in to the requests of the slaves.
Once more Moses is in the middle of all this. He has to take the two-timing nature of the Egyptian ruler. He has to persist with each sign entrusting himself to the one who is the real Ruler of the world. He persists in obedience and is used as God’s man for the situation. Even to the final sign that would bring the death of the firstborn.
That degree of perseverance as the stakes got bigger for all parties concerned would be good preparation for the next stage of his leadership. For now, it is something to admire how Moses persisted and with every sign pointed to the greatness of God, not himself. Here was a leader who knew that the only way he could keep going was trusting and obeying.
It marked a significant moment in the history of God’s people when they celebrated the first Passover. This key milestone let the people know that deliverance from God was something that He was serious about. That He would not leave His people in slavery. That He heard their cries and their taskmasters would no longer have mastery over them.
This was no overnight success. this was not something that happened with a click of the fingers. It was something that God did by His mighty hand. It was something that God did because God has His plan. It was something that God did because He chose who a man who would develop what it took to go from persistence to deliverance.
The qualities of persistence would also be hallmarks of the great Deliverer – Jesus Christ Himself. Persisting through the accusations, criticisms and doubt that was hurled his way. Persisting in how slow and dim His own disciples were to grasp what He was saying about Himself and His mission. In all that Jesus did not give up on those He called. Even when they betrayed and abandoned Him, Jesus persisted. His persistence brought about an even greater deliverance.
So there is the challenge to us. Before we are quick to suggest that we’re not big and brilliant like Jesus or even someone like Moses, we are brought back to remember how they persisted. They kept on going by trust in the One who sent them. It’s God’s plan. It’s God’s purposes. It’s God prevailing in all circumstances. It’s our responsibility to lean in totally on that and trust Him.
Trust and obey.
(Photo by Linh Nguyen on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 