Second Chances: Moses

We’ve been discussing people in the Bible who received a second chance.  We’ve already taken a look at the second chances Jonah, Job and Rahab received.  Today we’re going to take a look at Moses.

Moses was actually given three chances.  We first meet Moses as an infant, who should have been killed at birth.  However, his mother saved him from being killed.  When he was three months old, Miriam {his sister}, placed him in the Nile River.  From there the daughter of Pharaoh drew him out of the river and raised him as her own son.   God had a reason for saving the infant from the fate of his peers.

After he became an adult, Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew.  He fled to Midian, a desert country south of Judah, where he lived for 40 years.   He stayed there for many years and during this time, God appeared to him through the burning bush.  Moses wasn’t an eloquent speaker, but found help in his brother, Aaron.

God commanded Moses to return to Egypt and bring the Israelites {his chosen people} out of bondage and into the Promised Land.  Moses returned and appeared to Pharaoh, but God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.  God sent the ten plagues before Pharaoh let the Israelites go.

On their way to the Promised Land, God again appeared to Moses and gave him the 10 Commandments.  However, the Israelites rebelled and returned to idolatry.  The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.   God allowed Moses to gaze upon the Promised Land before he died, but he was not allowed to enter.

So what lessons can we learn from Moses:

1. God equips us for what He calls us to do
2. God sends the right people to help at the right time
3. Sometimes we have to wait to fulfill God’s will for our life
4. Sometimes we have to go through the wilderness before rising to our potential
5. Sin can prevent us from the very best God has in store for us {the Promised Land}
6. God reveals himself to us in the most unusual ways
7. God calls us to a life greater than ourselves, if we trust Him
8. Even leaders can have a past full of mistakes
9. We have to be patient and wait on God’s timing, which is usually not our timing
10. God does not want excuses, but for us to seek His perfect will
11. Moses was meek, but not weak
12. We must not be afraid to enter into the Presence of God

How is God equipping you for your destiny?