22/05/2022 - THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT WORK

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Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  Exodus 3:1

Forty years had passed since the day Moses had to flee from Pharaoh. Now, the Lord’s servant was a simple shepherd. His story is a novel of great inspiration for anyone who desires to have an encounter with God. He knew what it was like to go hungry and thirsty, to flee from the world’s largest empire of those days, and then, to be prepared and sent by God, to bring out of captivity more than 3 million Israelites. Hallelujah!

The meaning of the name Moses is “Taken out of the waters,” which was given to him precisely because of what happened to him. The Pharaoh of the time of his birth, guided by the devil, ordered that when they were born – the Hebrew boys were to be killed. If they continued to grow in number, they would soon be the majority in Egypt. However, Moses’ God-fearing parents were able to hide the baby. So says the Word: And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. (Exodus 2:1,2; Hebrews 11:23).

The future legislator of the holy people was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, who used to bathe in the streams of the Nile. When she found him, she fell in love with the boy and decided to raise him. Because he was found in a river, he received the name “Taken out of the waters” (Exodus 2:1-10). Moses was raised in all the science of Egypt and would have been an authority in that country, but God had prepared him for another mission: to free Jacob’s children, who at the time suffered as slaves in that prosperous land.

While defending a Hebrew, Moses ended up killing an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11,12). The Pharaoh of those days became enraged and wanted to arrest him for murdering an Egyptian citizen. Jochebed´s son fled and took refuge in Midian, where he married the daughter of the local priest. There he spent 40 years tending his father-in-law’s sheep and goats. One day, while taking the flock to pasture, he had a revealing encounter with the Almighty (read chapters 2 and 3 of Exodus).

Countless times, Moses had led the flock behind the desert, looking for good pastures for the animals, but that day the Lord had something special to show him. What he saw changed not only his life, but also the life of all the Hebrews. Of course, we know nothing of what God has prepared for us, but if we believe and serve Him with our heart, the time will come when He will visit us and reveal us our task.

Moses became one of the greatest names in history, for he was made a deliverer of his people, a statesman, historian, poet, moralist, and shepherd of those God entrusted to him. There has not been, in all the world, a leader who has led so many people through the desert and for such a long period as he did. He prepared Israel to take over the land flowing with milk and honey. Trust in the Lord, even if you have not seen answers to your prayers.

Notice that in the verse studied, Moses went to Horeb, the mountain of God. Horeb means “Dry.” We need to go where God calls us; thus, He will show us His will. Inside, there are many flocks that need food and water, and you will find them on the Dry Mountain.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares