During that Long Period (2)

During that 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

Exodus 2: 23

Yesterday we began a conversation about how God uses long periods in our lives to help us. 

​​Sometimes to correct our orientation and perspectives, help us overcome our Pharaohs (whatever it is that symbolises our own fears), build new relationships, or strengthen existing ones, or give us a renewed sense of mission. All these happened to Moses during the long time he spent in the wilderness, specifically in the house of Jethro the Midianite. 

On the other hand, during this same long period, the Israelites groaned in their slavery. Though the Pharaoh who started their slavery died, their servitude continued. Why? Their attitude remained unchanged even though the situation itself had changed. They still groaned and complained 

However, somewhere along the line, they changed their approach and “…cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God” (Exodus 2: 23-24) In response, “God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them” (Exodus 2: 24-25). 

Your long period is not a time to complain and question God, it is not a time to give up on God or spiritual things in pursuit of what makes sense. Rather, the scriptures encourage that we should “…not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Moses could have ended his long period in the house of Jethro and limited himself to being the husband of Zipporah, a father of two sons and a great shepherd of his father-in-law’s sheep, but God had more for him. With a simple obedience following his encounter with God, he stepped into his destiny. 

PRAYER