Passage Read: Genesis 49 - Exodus 2
Meditation Verses: Exodus 2:23-25
Thought
According to the book of Hebrews, Moses earlier recognized that he was appointed to lead the people out of Egypt, but the people at that time didn't recognize it. So Moses fled and spent as much as forty years in Midian as a shepherd. From a king's palace to a shepherd's tent. Moses had wanted to help his people, but they refused. Apparently, things hadn't gotten bad enough yet, not until the next king came along, then they groaned and cried out, and God took notice of them. But by then, Moses was pretty content with and settled in his new life. The people had missed several opportunities to leave Egypt, but not until they were trapped and their lives had become sufficiently bitter did they finally cry out for help.
Application
There are so many different lessons I could take from this, warnings about missed opportunities or jumping the gun. But God had previously said that they would remain in Egypt four hundred years, and after that He would punish Egypt and bring Israel out with a mighty hand. So these "setbacks" worked together to bring all this together at the right time and with the right conditions. Moses might not have learned the humility he became known for without his years in Midian, and he wouldn't have had the same relationship or dependence on the Lord without things working out as they had. Perhaps the best lesson to learn is not to worry about missed opportunities or failed starts. Both the people I want to serve and God have to be ready before success will come. "Hindsight is 20/20," but that's really not all that helpful, except for making myself feel bad. Better to trust in the Lord and look to His timing, especially when I jump the gun or seem to miss an opportunity. I don't need to beat myself up, but just be watchful for the time He's ready to work.