People Can See when God's at Work in your life

Background: The knowledge of the works of God and His power amongst the Israelites spread out to the Arameans as well, while Elisha was the prophet in Israel. In 2 Kings 8:7 the Bible records "7 Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, "The man of God has come all the way up here," 8 he said to Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the LORD through him; ask him, 'Will I recover from this illness?' " Can you see, the Aramean king also called on Elisha to consult regarding his sickness!!! Well the king didn't recover, just as Elisha had said. Hazael his attendant killed him.

Lesson: When we are knitted together with God, people near and far will see it. When our lives are dedicated and we are determined to walk with God daily, our life will shine and people will see it.

• Joseph worked dedicatedly keeping the honour of the Living Lord not giving up no matter what the situation he went through. He kept his integrity and Genesis 39:5 says "From the time he(Egyptian) put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." God worked so wonderfully in Joseph's life that even the pharoah put him incharge of everything, in Egypt Genesis 41:41 [ Joseph in Charge of Egypt ] So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." and then in Genesis 41:44 "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."
• Abraham 5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 "Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."
• For Moses his face shone because of his constant face to face conversations with the Living God and the Bible says Exodus 34:35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD."
• Peter remained faithful to the commission that Jesus had given him. Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. More than that there were more and more people coming to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: If you read all the miracles that Jesus did and how people thronged to meet Him. They came to hear Him, they were all around Him all the time. Sick people were brought to Him, children were brought to Him. His life was something in which people could see God's work. When we've been with the Lord and been obeying and walking with Him, people will see. Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you"

Life's Not Normal...

This morning I woke up about 4:30am with 'this' thought on my head. It kept ringing in my mind as if I needed to hear it, not just once but over and over again.
I have been wondering quite a lot about my life lately. Why is it different?

I started thinking from the beginning of time, when God called Noah....all this while Noah was having a "normal" life...like all others, until one day when, "Genesis 6:13 God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth." Not only this, but that he had to build a boat...uh..on land!!!. Life didn't remain normal for him from that day on...

Then we read of Abraham, he must have been having a "normal" life at home with his parents and relatives in Us, until one day "Genesis 12:1[ The Call of Abram ] The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Little did this man know that God meant what He said and that, this decision would change his life and the life of his descendants forever and we know what we have because of this our "faith" ancestor.

Then Joseph..another little boy who's life changed at the age of 13 when he shared, the dream God gave him. His own brothers sold him as slave to another country, but God had not abandoned this boy, God meant to keep the promise made to him through a dream. Joseph's life did not remain normal anymore.

Then there was Moses, from the day he was born, God had chosen him to represent and lead His people. The day God met him at the burning bush, his life did not remain normal...he was to go stand before the pharoah and demand God's people be set free and lead them to the promised land. He did not have the normal life from the day he took up his duties given by God.

Then another little boy, a shepherd boy, his life changed from the normal, when the man of God Samuel approached him and anointed him (in spite of there being a king in Israel, Saul, at that time) according to God's command. ...

Moving on to the latter times in the Bible, Saul- he thought he was doing a good thing by killing the Christians..until the time Acts 9:4 "He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"...and then his life did not remain "normal" anymore.

Whatever we think of as a "normal" life, does not remain normal anymore when our God enters in, it does not make sense until God's full plan is revealed. It makes no sense at all when you're just starting or halfway in the plan, but until the end is revealed. The world has fallen drastically so God has to change people's lives drastically for us to come out of our "normal" lives and appreciate the pleasant and perfect will of God, which only God can explain....in the end. Does it make sense that Jesus, God's only Son had to die for people who didn't know Him, was that big a sacrifice needed? We know it did, and was a valuable thing for us. Our lives, no matter how abnormal it may seem, no matter how inexplicable certain turns in life may seem, God knows the outcome of it all and He knows it is beautiful. For Noah, he saved his entire family from flood, as well as the creatures of the earth on that boat. For Joseph, he saved his family from famine and the people of Egypt during drought. For Moses, his life brought deliverance for the Israelites from Egypt. For David, a throne was established for the Israelites, that which would never lack a king...and would be the predecessor of the Great and Mighty King to come. For Jesus, his life became the cause of Salvation for the entire human kind.

Are there any more leaders like Moses?

In Moses, I find a very true leader

He always stayed connected to God- this showed that Moses acknowledged, the One (God) who was actually leading the Israelites to the Promised land.

He won the Israelites trust, because what he said, he would do, therefore proving that he had actually heard from God( Exodus 14:31)-this shows that he was honest in letting the people know exactly as God said, keeping nothing

• He interceded for the people (every time the Israelites came to him with a problem, he did not give his own suggestions, he went to God)-this shows that he cared for them, even though it does not say so, people who want to show u the way..if they really care about you walking the right way, they will pray for you.They will not assume, what God wants with them, but find out from God.
• Prepared a Leader who would finally take them to the promised land-did not want to leave the people stranded after he was gone, he planned for their future.

Bible sums up Moses' life like this " Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel." (Exodus 34:10-12). That looks to me like a very successful life, being blessed and being a blessing to so many too.

Do we have any examples of leaders like this left or existing?

The Knee Tool- A Neat Tool

I've now continued reading on from the life of the Israelites in the desert, and how Moses deals with the situations he faces-leading a whole pack of people, who are so wavering in their faith. The day God rescues them..oh they praise and worship God..but the days they are facing troubles..they are even more quick to grumble.

We've seen how the Israelites went about their journey with the Lord in my previous posts.
Now here's something Moses' life teaches us.
Background:

• The Red Sea situation(Exodus 14:11-12)
• Bitter Water Problem (Exodus 15:23-24)
• Food Problem(Exodus 16)
• No Water Problem (Exodus 17:2-5)

Moses's responses to the above situations

• The Red Sea response-The Bible says-"Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14). We even see God telling Moses why are you crying out to me? Thats because God has already revealed to Moses what He would do. We see Moses respond in faith.
• Bitter Water Problem-"Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. ........."(Exodus 15:25)
• Food Problem-The Bible here does not say whether Moses cried out to God or not, but God Himself told Moses "12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God"(Exodus 16:12)
• Water Problem-"Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"
  4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.""(Exodus 17:2-4)

I admire Moses for the way he dealt with this situation, he did not lose sight of God ever.He did not listen to what they were saying, rather, every time someone came to him to put in doubt in his heart about God's saving nature for all of them, he went right back to God and clarified everything. Isn't it the same with our relationships? I wonder why we don't use the same principles with God.

Lesson:In our lives too, when you're on your way to victory, satan tries to talk you out of it. There might even be people to discourage you, to make you concentrate on your problems more than on the promises God has given you. Satan tries to suggest that God does not love you any more, does not listen to your prayers anymore or even tries to show you that, what you're believing will not work. Get your tools on the ground, kneel down in prayer, tell God and listen to His Word.What God did for Moses He is able to do for you. 2 Chronicles 19:7 says"for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery." Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". How much more our Lord Jesus is willing to work on behalf of His children, who seek His will and love and trust Him. Don't give up...you've got a neat tool, use it.

Problems Already!!

3 days into their journey away from Egypt, the Pharoah's army drowned in the Red Sea, Israelites saw God's mighty work of splitting the Red Sea and making them walk on dry ground and they've forgotten ALL of that so easily. Here's what they say just 3 days into their journey "....When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. [a] ) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" (Exodus 15:23-24) I think they could have known better, they had seen God work right in front of their eyes. If God can part the Red Sea, wouldnt He be able to provide them with water....no but some people just don't want to believe God for everything. It can be difficult yes, I know,but not impossible.

I am so glad Moses was with them, he knew what to do-he called out to God and God helped him out. What if Moses had done what the others were doing? Would they have seen God work in this for them? I dont know, but I don't think so. If Moses wouldnt have found out from God that all they needed was stick to be put in the water;they might have had to work to set up a water filtration system or something and soon else they could die without water. Yes with God the solution to your problem could be so simple, if only you would ask God. So why don't you? He's got all the answers you'll need and is more than willing to help you, so ask Him and more than that, be sure to listen.

Conclusion: All I am saying is summed up in one verse from the Word of God- "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"(Romans 8:32). God has done sooooo much for us, the least we can do is trust Him with our lives to make it better not only for us, but for all who are around us. I recommend reading my previous post on finding real Success!! .

Overcoming Difficulties-Working with God

When Moses and the Israelites were right in the middle of their difficulty..on their very first journey with God to the Promised Land,God told them something regarding how to tackle a situation where there seemed no way out

"The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward!
16Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17And I, behold, I will harden (make stubborn and strong) the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go [into the sea] after them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and horsemen. 18The Egyptians shall know and realize that I am the Lord when I have gained honor and glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen." (Exodus 14:14-18 )

1. Go forward- When God's with you, trust Him and go forward. Trust Him you will surely see your miracle.
2. Lift up your rod- God, earlier gave Moses the rod. To think that this was actually Moses' staff, but when it was laid down before God the staff was transformed(Refer: Exodus 4, Exodus 4:20 ). God has given us His Word (The Bible) with all the weapons you'll need to fight the enemy.
3. Stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it- It looks funny here to me that something impossible for man and God has Moses do it as if, Moses always knew what he was supposed to do upon reaching a sea.God commands Moses as if its an inherent quality in Moses to split the sea. We all know it is not. God here showed Moses that the answer to his problem was in his hands, his staff, and the action was Moses'. Moses had to take action. God did not speak to the sea. Moses did, with his faith in what God told him. Yeah! it works that way most of the time, we've got to speak to our problems, we've got to work through the situation, but the secret is, under God's direction. Yes, you have to know what God would have you do to your situation and DO IT.

Conclusion:Recently, God gave me directions regarding my life from His Word, I listened to it and aligned myself to the Word of God and it worked. God likes to work with His people not without them. Thats how families work, together, not individually. We're part of God's family.

Facing Difficulties

The Red Sea before them and the pharoah's army behind them, and here's what the Israelites had to say to Moses out on the first day of their journey to the Promised Land-"They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Exodus 14:11-12) And Moses replied-"Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14).

Have you ever felt that you know for sure what God has promised you and there are people around who don't agree with you? You might feel frustrated because no one seems to understand the value of the promise you're holding on to.I do.

Well we needn't give up hope and start thinking like the people around.When we put our trust in God, He takes charge of everything that concerns you. He knows your concerns even before you do and is willing to help you out if you will let Him.

For the Israelites, even if Moses and maybe a few others were the only ones steadfast in their faith, God stood between them and the enemy. So does God do for you. When God has promised you regarding your situation, be strengthened that God will see that it comes to pass and if you allow (by faith) God to work, He stands right in between you and your enemies or tough situations. So if you're facing difficulties and are holding onto God's promise from His Word, know that God is right in the middle of it, protecting you.

Conclusion: I like what the Word of God says to confirm this-"We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him]." (1John 5:18 Amp)

Success !!

Its easy to loose focus when what you see becomes bigger than what you believe in. Throughout the Bible, we see God picking out people with problems and turning them into miracles, and changing failures into successes. Not just marginal success, but huge successes.
The good thing about this, getting successful thing, is not 1-2-3 but needs waiting, patience, building character too. While God ushers us into success, he also needs to build up our inner man, to be honest, of good and strong character, of good works, of love, of a sound mind, of perseverance, of patience and the likes.

We like the part about being successful, but we would not want to go through the building up of the inner man. Would we be able to wait like Abraham for 25 yrs for God's promise to be fulfilled in our lives? Sounds difficult right.Or like Joseph, to go through prison, and cheating and still staying honest and true to God AND waiting for 13 yrs for God's promise to complete. Or, like Moses, to be right in the middle of unbelief(Israelites not believing and grumbling about God) and yet keep believing God to guide them to the promised land. Or, like Joshua, trusting God's power to give them the promised land, in the midst of people who accompanied him to check out the promised land.

We can become successful the way we want, or the way God wants and make life beautiful, not only for us, but also be a blessing to all who come in contact with us.

• Abraham became a blessing to all who have faith in God
• Joseph became a blessing to Egypt as a country as well as to his family and other Israelites in a time of need
• Moses became a blessing and guided people upto the promised land, even training Joshua under his leadership
• Joshua became a wonderful leader and led Israelites into the promised land

There are more people mentioned in the Bible whom, God blessed in the inner man as well as in their material possessions.They had impact in the lives beyond their scope of life on earth. Imagine that.

Ponder on: "Proverbs 10:22 (Whole Chapter) The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]. "

God's Answers

When it is in God's mind to save His people, He will do anything. We have seen how Moses Questioned God and now lets see how God answered them.


Question 1.Who am I that I should go?(Exodus 3:11)
Answer. Exodus 3:12- "I will be with you.." Wow isn't that an amazing thing a person can have. Its almost like you've been given an assignment and its great that the CEO of the company is also coming with you. Imagine how important that assignment could be that the CEO had to go for it too. More than that, imagine how important it is for you to be on that assignment which is of so much value to the CEO.We may be nothing before the immense that God has prepared you for but the greatest thing is that He is going to be with you in it. God does not give you an assignment that He is not on too. He will never leave you. Know that if you're in something that is overwhelming you, some task that seems unbeatable, some person whom you've been praying for and it seems you've been working on a stone. Don't worry God is there right there with you in that task that He has assigned you to. Take courage.

Question 2. What's God's name? (Exodus 3:13)
Answer. "I AM who I AM......the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:14-15) . What God said to Moses is amazing. I am who I am. If there is time, God is. There is love, God is.More than that to help Moses understand, God identifies Himself with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, people whom Moses would have known. People can know God by your life as well. What are you showing people? . Abraham,Isaac and Jacob trusted God in their lives and set an example for the people to follow so that the people would know that they too could have a personal relationship with this Living God.We saw God work through the faith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had on him. They each had different problems, but God was God to all of them in their own unique situations.Similarly, when we trust God, we can know God as our God. One who becomes one with your situation, no matter how difficult it is. In the world not many people can understand what pain or suffering or anxiety you might be going through. You may not find a friend who knows you so well, that he/she gives you encouragement when you need, give you the right suggestions, helps you make the right choices and decisions, is with you through everything you go through.God is one who can understand you fully well, because He knows your very form.He is Who He is. Your salvation. Your redemption.Your God. Your protector. Your guide. Your security. Your strength.Your healing. Your wealth. Your family.

Question 3."What if they don't believe me?"(Exodus 4:1)
Answer. "Whats in your hand?"(Exodus 4:2) God showed Moses that he didn't have to look anything beyond to help him prove God to the Israelites. It would have been enough for Moses that God was going with him, but Moses wanted some tangible evidence and God gave that to him. So it is with us, we don't trust God when He says "Lo I am with you, now and forever." We need more proof to show that God is with us. Also, we see that God used something that Moses was having. Anything that you have can be an instrument for God's work. A person once shared this. We see here that Moses came to God (in the burning bush) with the staff he was shepherding his sheep and later on we read in Exodus 4:20 "...And he took the staff of God in his hand." I think it is wonderful to know that the staff that Moses once had has now become the staff of God. Its like we read in my previous post "Preparing the Leader", that Moses had a passion "freedom for the Israelites" which became the aim God wanted to achieve. It was Moses staff and God was going to use something which was once only used to herd sheep and scare off wild animals, but to now stand before the Pharoah and declare the work of God. We might have something in us, which we might think as an insignificant thing, but when laid down before the Almighty God, becomes a talent of God, not just for you but a huge blessing to all who see it. God can do that for you too. Are we willing to lay down all our talents before God and see God mould us and make us into an amazing person to be a blessing to many.

Question 4. "I am not good at this"(Exodus 4:10)
Answer: "....Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." (Exodus 4:11-12) This time Moses had done it. He was saying God could not help him talk. He even says please send someone else to talk. It reminds me of myself, many times I am afraid to say something God would want me to share and have lost an opportunity of being a blessing. I have also seen, how God has asked me to say something and I have been amazed at the way what I said had been to that person.God gives you many chances in a day to be a blessing to someone, every single day of your life. We can either take it and rejuvenate our faith, or just let it go and waste time and effort on something not to be done. God is able to give us all the grace for the task that He assigns us too. Remember when Jesus was sending disciples to preach, he said not to take any stuff with them, for God would provide. Yeah, if you know for sure God has called you to a task, be more than sure that He has already equipped you with everything you would ever need for that task. So be bold in the Lord and in the strength of His might. For He is going with you.

Conclusion: With such a wonderful God at our side, who should you fear. Be the person that God has created you to be. A blessing to someone every single day of your life. An encourager to someone somewhere, maybe in prayer, maybe in sharing you wealth, maybe in preaching, maybe in loving and caring for the sick and weary, maybe in just being there without a word, maybe in crying in intercession, maybe in teaching the Word, maybe helping the children love God and find their strength in God the way you did. There is definitely something, a passion, God has put in your heart which you long to do, something which will bless many. Take strength in the Lord and go with Him.You will be blessed.

Questioning God

Exodus 3:10-21

Moses had a lot of questions to ask God when he was called by God for his assignment. I couldnt help but compare this to other calling, especially to one who is by far the most obedient and faithful. Yes the father of our "Faith on a Living God". Abraham.If you read Genesis 12:1-4 you'll find that Abraham did not have many questions when God asked him to leave his place and go to a land God promised. Now come to think of it, he didnt know where he was going and God promised him that he would become a great nation. I wonder if he would have thought, "this is ridiculous, wonder whether I can have kids when I am so old and stuff..." but he went, the Bible does not say he complained or questioned God's authority, but as you'll find in Moses' case he wasn't one without questions, he had questions, many of them.

1. Who am I that I should go?(Exodus 3:11) - I have been wondering about this aspect "Questioning God". Do we know any thing more than God, that we can question God. I feel as time went by, people questioned God more than the pioneer of Faith. No wonder we don't see people like Abraham any more, who was so faithful to God in everything God asked him to do that God was willing to share his heart with Abraham(Genesis 18:16-18). Imagine, you're such a good employee that your company's CEO wants to tell you his future plans, more than that because he has seen such commendable work from you that he even risks the chance of having to adjust his plans and take your suggestions as well. Oh that would make me so much proud. What would we do if God were to ask us of something we should go out and do? No matter how contrary it may be to what you've been doing all this while. Are we willing to let God be God and use our life to the fullest. I believe God can be restricted with questions as Moses asks. We'll see an example of this later. Its, how much faith you have in the Living God that, WHATEVER HE ASKS you are willing to do without questioning Him. Do I have an "ALL OUT" faith in Jesus? Moses' question almost seems like telling God "Lord you made a mistake, how can you choose me? I don't think you were looking for me".I know there could be many mistakes that we have made, feeling miserable about our past decisions/actions and probably hiding in one corner of our world from people. Like Moses was. But we see God has a plan for Moses, a position to lead and so, God has a plan for us too. Not to be a part of a crowd, but to lead. Imagine that. Don't hide, come out and go with the Lord, that He may lead you to be a leader in whatever He calls you to do and to be. Only you can be that.
2. What's God's name? (Exodus 3:13,) Moses asks "What if they ask the name of the God who called me, what should I say?".I wonder,probably Moses had to ask that question, because Moses was brought up with so many varieties of gods in the Egyptian cutoms he didn't know which one to go for. I think its a sad thing that people lost track of who is the real God. Noah knew God well,Abraham knew God well, Isaac knew God well,Jacob knew God well and here Moses wants to know who God is. Many times we start thinking like the world and lose our sight of the Lord. Soon we might even take time to recognise our Living Saviour. Isnt it sad when we lose our precious time with our Living Lord and hence we get deceived thinking there could be another. Maybe a leaf, a book, the sun, the moon or something else, or anything that is bigger than man. God had to break through that confusion and bring into light, that He is the God Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Also, its amazing that God would like to identify Himself as a God of a certain person and attach Himself to a person's name. God declares "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me," Isaiah 45:5. There is no other God other than the Living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God would like to be known as "your" God.
3. "What if they don't believe me?"- Moses wanted to be on the safer side of whatever he was getting into. Abraham did not ask any doubting questions.I have many times asked God questions of doubt and unbelief.Should we be one's to suggest to Someone who has created the entire Universe with His knowledge and even our brain which still baffles the scientists in its intelligence and working. God knows best for us. If He wanted, He could have done anything, without any of our intervention, but He wants to work with His children,us. I am reminded of a story I once read.y of 2 yrs old came along and wanted to help daddy out. The man was sooo happy to see his son wanting to help him. He held the table and let his son hold an end as if the kid was carrying the stuff, while the entire weight was borne by the father. The son felt happy to help his dad. Little did the kid know that his dad could have moved the furniture on his own if he wanted. So is with God, He works "with" His people not without them.Would you let God work with you. Let's not "what if" when God calls us for an assignment.We'll see amazing works from God in our life. Even if we have had doubts and feel like giving up. DON"T. If Moses would have stopped at asking questions and not gone with God, we might not have been we might be on our verge to see God make a way through the Red Sea, win many battles, set us free from oppression no matter who the oppressor and many more like Moses did. Don't doubt on God.
4. Finally an excuse- Its a final go that even we try, God I am not good at this. Many times when God calls us to do something we might think we're not good at. Its probably because we haven't seen ourselves the way God sees. He sees us as a miracle, as His masterpiece. As His loving child. As someone for whom God was willing to lay down His life. As someone who has the potential to become what God has made him/her for.

Conclusion:-People who don't want to believe will have a lot of questions. For me the question is am I willing to trust God without a shadow of a doubt, without any questions like God has shown in His Word. Or am I the one who will question, reason, weigh (between something little I knowand something magnificent God knows about me) and then turn down God. God wants to do amazing things for us in our lives. We cannot see the success of our lives without Him.

"What is success? It's remaining faithful to God's will. And what's God's will? To love one another. We are responsible for the effort not the outcome. The outcome is in God's hands." -Mary Jo Copeland

Many a people come to God with their own perception of what they can do with themselves and how God can help and get disappointed. I think we should want to know what else we can do with God. Discovering ourselves and how God can use us for His mighty work, even beyond our capabilities.Learning to trust God with our lives so He could bring out the best. Lives that will not only change our own perception of our lives, but be an impact to all the people.

Receiving God's Redemption Plan

As already seen how God saw the groanings of the Israelites in Egypt and how God was concerned for His people. We also saw how God had prepared the Leader for the Israelites and now that everything and everyone is ready God reveals His Redemption Plan for the Israelites to Moses. I feel that the giving of the Redemption Plan to Moses, just did not happen one fine day in Moses's life but that God had prepared Moses' heart and mind to a place he would listen to God and obey God so that God's plan would be appreciated by His people.



The Burning Bush Experience (Exodus 3:1)

Background:It has been a long time since Moses fled(Exodus 2:23) from Egypt after killing the Egyptian for flogging an Israelite(Exodus 2:11-15). He is now married to Zipporah and even has a baby from her named Gershom(Exodus 2:21-22). I'm thinking of writing about names a little later. Moses was out tending his father-in-law's sheep.

• Moses takes his sheep to the far side of the desert.(Exodus 3:1)

(My thoughts-When God has something important to say to you, He would have you come to a far side, mostly somewhere you've never been before.Don't be afraid of going onto the far side, it could be something you haven't done before. Trust God)

• A burning bush-a strange sight (Exodus 3:2,3)

(My thoughts-Look out for what God is trying to get your attention to. Sometimes when we are in a strange situation, we prefer not to look around,to hide ourselves from the strange when probably there is something God would like us to see. Pay attention to what God would have you see, no matter what situation you are in, that paying attention to what God has to show and say will be instructions regarding how God can use you in that situation. Its all in how attentive we are to God's voice and calling. If Moses wouldn't have gotten interested in the things of God (though they be strange)- the redemption for the Israelites would take another long time-also Moses' passion suppressed would have gone away with him and we wouldn't read about him and be blessed. So be careful to listen and pay attention to what God wants you to attend to.)

• Getting in position to receive God's Plan (Exodus 3:4-6)

1. Go closer to God- in Moses case he went to see the bush closely and God spoke to him. (My thoughts-If we want to hear anything from God, we've got to go nearer to Him and wait)
2. Respond correctly when God speaks -God called out to Moses by name and Moses responded. (My thoughts-God knows you by name, He is concerned about you. So when God wants to talk to you, respond. Most of the times , we are so bogged down by our own wonderings and musings, we might be too engrossed to respond. I wonder what if Moses was staring at the burning bush and so engrossed in it at the way it burns, that he wouldn't have heard God. Or could have said "Wait a minute Lord, I haven't seen anything like this. Lemme enjoy this view." The situation then would have turned out to be something else altogether. Many times I feel, we get so engrossed in the episode rather than in the God behind it, that we may not even hear God talk through it and we go one about it.I did that some time ago.I was so worried about a certain thing that was bothering me that I would sit to pray and go on and on and on and on about my situation and pray on and on. I thought I was doing the right thing and when I was done unloading my cares I would get up and go. Then I learnt to stay there and to BE STILL and KNOW THAT HE IS GOD.I am glad Moses responded the way he did and God introduced Himself to Moses for the first time and you know what's written later on in Exodus about Moses-The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. If only we had the patience to turn our attention to the right direction, and respond rightly instead of just saying what we feel we must say and wait to hear from God in His Presence, we would know what God would have for us. Even our redemption.)
3. Reverence-God taught Moses to rightly position himself before God. God asked Moses to take off his sandals because the place is holy and introduced Himself. (My thoughts-We know a lot about courtesy, to honour people, to respect our elders, our bosses and the likes but too often we leave our manners way behind when we come in the Presence of the Lord of lords and King of kings. How many of us would like to talk back to our bosses knowing that's the only job we can get or the only one which suits us? Not many I guess, I wouldn't. How much more should we be in respect when in the Presence of the Almighty God.Just because God would like to call us friends and treat us like one, it does not remove or cancel the fact that your FRIEND is the Living God, the Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Holy One of Israel and much more than who you are.Let's not just go into a time of prayer and go on and on about us, but listen to God and respect what He wants because after He is omniscient. All knowing and knows how we should respond. Let's learn from THE TEACHER.)
4. God Reveals his heart-Remember in the previous post about how God was concerned about His people and now we see, something which God was concerned about, He reveals to Moses. This is really glorious to grasp, knowing that an Almighty God would use a mere person to carry out His concern, also from the background of Moses we read earlier in the leader being prepared for Israel we know that Moses had realised his passion(freedom for the Israelites), the passion that God has put in his heart and now was ready to get on the plan.(My thoughts-God already has a plan for our lives, and when we get onto the same page as God, understanding what God would have us do, we position ourselves to use our potentials to the full. The key I found to receiving God's plan for our lives is to stay so close to God, long enough that our thoughts, our purposes become the same as God's.You also see here that the redemption was not for Moses, it wasn't for his benefit. He might have been OK with his new family and new place. Most of the times, the plan God has for your life is rightly for blessing someone else, but rest assured, as you seek to do God's plan for your life, you'll find a.) You get closer and closer to God through His plan b.) You become a blessing, not to one but many c.)Your situation automatically aligns itself to God's plan of blessing for you because God blesses you and this blessing overflows from your life into other people's lives)

Conclusion:I have been more blessed in times where in a prayer I have welcomed God and then sat down reading the Word of God in His Presence. It has helped me to understand God and what He can do about my situation. Makes me feel confident that God can and has done something about my situation already. Even before I even came across this point of my life. He knew it and has dealt with it. We need to just be rest assured and continue doing our work for the Kingdom of God. Don't let the pressures of life hamper your work for the Kingdom of God, for that's what those pressures can do, divert your attention to yourself, your own needs and while you're fighting for things which God has already taken care of, souls are being stolen away from the Kingdom of God because the one person who could be helped only by you was never attended to by you. For God indeed has taken care of everything and anyway, what can you do anything about your situation which could be for your good. Would you know to do the right thing for it on your own? So "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Mathew 6:33)

Preparing the Leader for Israelites

While the Israelites were under oppression, God was already working with His Redemption Plan for the Israelites. Moses was already trained in all Egyptian customs and upbringing, trained to be a ruler. The only difference was, he wasn't going to be an Egyptian leader but an Israelite leader.Let's see how God worked that out in Moses life. This would help us to understand some things that God would have us do.

Moses' Passion
Moses has no idea what God had planned for his life, but you see from reading Exodus, it was in him to be touched and moved by the oppression of his people. He could not tolerate oppression. (My thought-God has already put in you all the ingredients, that make you special for the purpose for which He created you.You need to start realising it and let God reveal them to you as you grow in relationship with the Lord)

Moses was made ready for what he was made for
God knew that Moses needed traits of a leader and made arrangements for Moses' training as a leader in the place God knew would be the best for Moses and the Israelites.From the Egyptian kingdom, Moses knew how they talk, how they think, how they fight, how they behave, because he lived right in the middle of them.He was being trained to know how to deal with them, how to present himself before them, though while Moses was there, he might not have known why he was learning what he was learning.Only God knew.
(My thought-If there is a place you are in, and you don't understand why you are there, rest assured, God knows, why you are there. Just stay connected to the Lord wherever or in whatever situation you are in and He will make clear to you His plans in due time and you will know why and how you are to use the skills you acquired while you were in that place.)

Right way to use your unique passion/talents/ability
In Exodus 2:11-15 we see that the passion that God put in Moses life, Moses used on his own and finally had to run away from Egypt. (My thought:-Once we know the passion God has put in our hearts which is unique to us, we should ask God to show us the way we can use it. Coz if we use our own methods to use it, we are definite to cause controversy and problems. Its that powerful.So we need to learn to use our passion the right way. What I mean by passion is, something viz a situation, a group of people, a place etc. that moves your heart to the point of wanting to do something about it, something for it. For e.g. Martin Luther King knew that oppression and racial discrimination was not right and fought for the Civil Rights.So ask God how we can use our passion and follow His leading and guidance.)

Listening to the ONE who can help you reach your full potential
Now that Moses understood his passion-freedom for the Israelites- God knew that now it was time to bring His plan for Moses life to action and lets His heart known to Moses. In Exodus 3:7 -10 God tells Moses that God is concerned about His people and that Moses has to go and redeem them. Now Moses found a real way of using his passion and this time to use it the right way, with God's guidance and protection. Thus God revealed His plan to Moses and prepared the leader for Israel to start their walk towards freedom. (My thought- Once we know the passion God has put in our hearts, we will be in a position to hear from God, His plan regarding our life and hence reach and fulfill our potential)