A revived dream

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 Exodus 2:11-15

King James Version

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Have you ever felt God had a specific purpose for your life? Then, when you tried to make that purpose come to pass in the best way you knew how, you really messed things up? 

You're not alone. 

I'm still recovering from that in my life. My family is still recovering from that in my life. 

Moses did it, too. 

A Hebrew child. Born under a death sentence from the mightiest leader in the world at the time. Miraculously saved and raised by the pharaoh's own daughter. Raised in riches and a possible heir to the throne. Yet, his nursemaid had been his real Hebrew mother. Surely she whispered the history of their people to the little boy. How many times did she pray earnestly for the God of Israel to somehow use this unique situation to set their people free?

It had an effect. 

Moses must've picked up on what she was teaching and kept it near to his heart. He recognized the Hebrew slaves as his very own brethren. He recognized his Egyptian benefactors as the evil slave drivers that they were. It boiled up in him one day.

The right circumstance. A lone Egyptian beating a lone Hebrew. A thought. A rage. He steps in and kills the Egyptian, saves the Hebrew man, and buries the evidence. 

The next day, he's back out there again. Watching. Waiting. What did he think he was going to do? Act like the legendary Zorro and try to take the whole Egyptian system down- one man at a time? Creeping in the shadows? Looking for another opportunity to "strike a blow for freedom?" 

Did he really seek the God of Israel before he impetuously came up with this crazy plan? 

But, as he was looking, he came across two Hebrews fighting. When he steps in as the hero to stop them from attacking each other, he's quickly rebuked and asked if he would kill them as he had the Egyptian the day before?

Horror! Surprise! He's discovered! 

He soon realizes that if these random Jews knew what he'd done, some Egyptians also knew. And if they knew, Pharoah would soon know. Then his life would be forfeit! He knew he had to flee for his very life! 

So much for freeing his people. He barely escaped with his own life.

He winds up in Midian and stumbles across some sheep being tended by some women. 

They drew water to water their father's flock, only to be driven away by stronger male shepherds. But Moses, who'd evidently been schooled by some fine warriors while living in Pharaoh's court, stood up and fought back the men- forcing them to let the women water their own flocks as they had intended. 

Moses found a home that day. He found a place to belong, a father-in-law he respected, a wife who loved him, and an occupation he could work hard in and help to grow. Yes, it was a far cry from Pharoah's glorious court and the throne. It was further still from delivering Israel from the yoke of bondage. 

But, it was a good life. A happy and contented life. One he could be proud of. 

But always, in the back of his mind, he wondered, "what if..."

What if his plan had worked and he'd led an uprising?

What if he'd just hung on to become Pharoah and set his people free by official decree? 

Oh well, (sigh). That was 40 years ago. Too much time had passed. He'd made a mess of things then, but at least he had his family and his sheep to be proud of.

" I wonder who God will use to finally set Israel free?"

Not me. I'm too old and made too many mistakes. 

But suddenly, there was a bush that was on fire but refused to burn. And he had to go see this strange sight. And the rest is glorious history! 

God would break into Moses' little kingdom he'd built and revive a dead 40-year-old dream. 

God would indeed use Moses to free Israel from Egypt, but it wouldn't be by Moses' schemes. He'd set Israel loose for the first time in four hundred years, but it wouldn't be by Moses' position and power- nor by his knowledge of the inner workings of Egypt. 

No, God almighty had the plan to free his people and a purpose to use Moses to do so. All Moses had to do was be obedient to what God told him to do. 

The funny thing is, as Bishop Jeff Arnold once stated, you can't find one scripture where Moses ever prayed and sought God the whole 40 years he tended the sheep and cared for his family. He didn't even know where God was!

But God knew where he was. 

And when the time was right, God didn't reach for someone within Pharoah's court. God didn't reach for a large faction of slaves to rise up and throw off the bonds of slavery. God didn't even bring in an invading Army to end the tyranny of slavery.

No.

He reached to a wilderness mountain. He reached for a somewhat torn old shepherd. A shepherd who had scars from fighting off men and beasts to protect his sheep. A shepherd who'd faced down many a snake. A shepherd who'd learned humility and to love the ones who followed him. 

God said, now there's a man I can use. 

So, he tapped Moses on the shoulder and said, "Hey son. Do you remember that dream I gave you forty years ago? You tried it your way then. You jumped the gun a bit. But, if you'll do what I tell ya, I'll accomplish more than you could ever dream of through you! I won't just bring Israel out, I'll cripple Egypt at the same time."

"Wanna give it a shot, son?"

The point is this. 

God not only gives to each of us a seed of faith. He also gives each of us a dream of doing something for him that will benefit the world. 

And many of us have tried in our youthful exuberance to kick down the door and make it happen. 

And in so doing, we've left pain and chaos behind. So, we bury ourselves in a decent little career and content ourselves with taking the best care of our family and career that we possibly can. 

But, God's plans never die.

Maybe one day soon, when we least expect it, God's going to show up miraculously in our lives, look at us with a somewhat mischievous grin, and say, "Hey. You ready to try it my way?"

Who knows. Maybe we'll even say yes. Just like Moses did. And if we do....? 

Watch out world. God's fixing to change some things and free some people! 

Glory to God in the highest!