Hopes, dreams, goals, ambitions.
We all have things we want to do, milestones to conquer, bucket lists to check off, finish lines to cross.
Yet, in the burning desires of our hearts, comes the call of God. Then arises the question: God, what is it you want me to do?
And we look for that burning bush.
Oh, how we can look back at Moses and become envious, for God revealed himself to Moses through the burning bush. He told Moses exactly what He wanted him to do. The expectations, the plan, it was laid out right there before Moses.
How many times, my friend, do we look and pray for that burning bush? For God to clearly reveal His perfect plan to us?
How easy that would make all this decision making!
But wait.
Moses had a problem with this clear plan of God's.
God told Moses, "This is what you are to tell the people and this is what you will do," and proceeded to reveal His plan to Moses.
But Moses said, "Wait! What if they don't believe me?"
God had an answer, and it was in Moses' staff. He would toss it to the ground and it would become a snake. Moses was told to pick it up by its tail (Eeeek!), and it turned back to a staff. The staff would perform miraculous signs so the people would believe.
Fair enough.
But Moses still relented. He said, "But God, I am not a good speaker. I can't talk to these people! Send someone else."
God told him that he would be fine. God Himself would give Moses the words to share. But still that wasn't enough for Moses, so God gave him his brother Aaron to be his helper.
Does this sound familiar?
How many times do we pray for God's will to be done, to be revealed to us, to be a witness to that burning bush? Then how many times, when God reveals Himself and His perfect plan to us, do we back away and find excuse after excuse on why we can't proceed?
Life's journey is a long, winding road. And for those that desire to do the will of God, it can seem to be longer, with more twists and turns. God doesn't always put that burning bush in front of us. I think sometimes He tests us, He prepares us, and then eventually helps us to step into that perfect will of His.
If God did reveal Himself to us, face to face, and said, "This is what I want you to do. Go. Do it," would we? Would we jump to the task joyfully and wholeheartedly obey? Or would we be like Moses and say, "You know God, I really don't think I can do this," and then give Him a list of reasons why we can't do what God's called us to do?
And maybe, that's why God doesn't always clearly reveal His plan to us. If we see the journey upfront, the heartaches, and the pain, we will back away and say, "God, find someone else. This isn't for me." Instead, I think God sometimes leads us one step at a time so that we don't always know the path we are on until we get there. He doesn't always give us the chance to back out.
When we ask God's will to be done in our lives, we need to mean it....wholeheartedly, without a shadow of a doubt, truly desire what God wants our lives to mean for Him.
He will lead us to a land flowing with milk and honey, but the journey won't always be easy. It won't always be beautiful. However, it will always be worth it.
When Moses finally obeyed and the Israelites were being lead on their journey, God provided for them. He lit their way and fed them physically and spiritually. He wouldn't do any less for us. God loves us, and regardless of what journey He has called us to, He will provide.
We just have to trust and obey.
Trusting others is hard. People let us down all the time. Sometimes on purpose. Sometimes, well, because they are people and that means they're imperfect.
