Tag: #Moses

Mild Moses Takes the Lead! – Lessons Learned from the Wandering Israelites

Reading how God uses weather to serve purposes for the greater good is fascinating. Today, we will look at the Israelites wandering in the desert.

A Pillar of Cloud.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

Exodus 13:21

God’s Navigational System.

After the 10 plagues in Egypt, the Israelites began their 40-year trek in the wilderness. At first, they were afraid. They didn’t know where to go. They cried out to God. God sent a cloud by day and fire by night to lead them. Of course, they thought it would take less than forty years. They probably thought it would take only a few months. Can you imagine traveling as a “people” with thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers?

The Building of a Leader.

At first, Moses did not think he was capable of leading anyone. He told God that he was slow in speech and tongue. (Exodus 4:10) God wanted to use Moses because of Moses’ humility and willingness to follow God’s direction. God rarely uses the eloquent, strong person to accomplish his mission. He chooses the most unlikely people who turn around and become strong, vibrant leaders.

A Resilient People.

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Moses spent years honing his leadership skills in managing this great exodus. He learned patience, delegation, and conflict management. His vision and direction created a resilient people. After Moses passed away, God called Joshua to bring the Israelites to Caanan.

Lessons Learned

#1. Strength Comes from Unity and Community.
#2. Wisdom and Inspiration can be found in Family Connections.
#3. Obstacles Prepare Us for Our Life Journey.

Together is Better

In a world where we may feel alone, we can find others who identify with us and can help us overcome challenges. We can achieve goals by leaning on each other for encouragement and support. Can you think of a time when you were discouraged and wanted to quit, yet a friend or loved one encouraged you to continue? What was the outcome?

Gene Pool

Do you have a hankering for salt air? Or you like the cold when it nips your nose. The geographical location of your family of origin might shed some light on some of these quirky feelings you have had all your life.

Family stories provide us with a rich history of what our ancestor’s life journeys may have been like. These stories teach us values. And values can be strengthened by a greater sense of identity and connection to your heritage. Were your family members born during a time of conflict? A time of peace? Did they travel to another place? Was there a failed business? A successful business? Did any of your family members possess a specific talent or skill?

Twists and Turns.

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Many of which require hard work. Completing a high school education, college degree, or a trade certification. Or saving for a down payment on a home. What lessons can we learn from the path that leads to our “promised land?”

Maybe the next time you think something is taking “forever” – think again! Let us remember the story of Moses and the wandering Israelites. How steadfast a people continue to flourish despite all odds.

Track down your family tree.

Explore birthplaces.

Be thankful for family.

Take a Deep Breath.

Let’s breathe in wisdom and inspiration and exhale disbelief and pride.

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Hail No! – Lessons Learned from The Story of the Plagues

Lightening Flashed. Hail Fell.

When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed to the ground. So the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; hail fell, and lightning flashed back and forth. It was the worst storm in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.

Exodus 9:23,24

The Story of the Plagues comes from the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. It begins 400 years prior when the Israelites had become enslaved in Egypt. They prayed. And prayed for a very long time.

Moses & Aaron.

God inflicted ten plagues to convince Pharoah to free the Israelites. God chose Moses for this task and for leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. But Moses thought he wasn’t a good choice. So, God selected his brother, Aaron, to help him.

Moses was a fascinating choice for several reasons. First, he floated down the Nile River as a baby and was retrieved and adopted by the Pharoah’s daughter. This meant that Moses grew up in royalty. When he later learned of his true biological heritage, he killed an Egyptian, fled Egypt, went to Midian, and became a shepherd. He was there for 40 years.

Equally compelling was God choosing Aaron. Even though Aaron was Moses’ brother, Aaron had grown up a Levite. Not an Egyptian. It was intriguing that God chose two brothers raised entirely differently. And they both heeded the call of God to protect and free the Israelites.

Tough Nut.

Interestingly, each of the ten plagues is related to an Egyptian god. Pharoah was tough to crack because the first six plagues didn’t scare him. (1) The Nile River turned into blood, (2) frogs covered the land, (3) dust became gnats, (4) swarms of flies, (5) disease inflicted on livestock, and (6) soot became boils on the skin of the Egyptians including their animals.

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Thunder. Hail.

Then, God sent a hailstorm.

Not just any hailstorm.

One that would kill anyone that was outside.

For each plague, Pharoah believed that the Egyptian gods would outsmart the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

But he was wrong.

Moses and Aaron, both appointed by God, were faithful in their servitude. Then came (8) the locusts the day after the east wind blew. Next, (9) total darkness fell upon the land for three days. The last plague was the death of the first-born son, which will lead us into the next blog post on The Passover.

Finally, the Pharoh liberated the Israelites so they could resume their quest to arrive at the Promised Land. The Story of the Plagues teaches us about God’s power and choice of helpers. Kindness, loyalty, and faithfulness are what God seeks.

Lessons Learned

As we move into Fall, let us learn lessons from The Story of the Plagues and how it applies to our lives.

#1. Actions have Consequences.
#2. Have Faith. 
#3. Be Patient. (And Generous)

The plagues were a direct result of Pharaoh’s unwillingness to obey God. Likewise, our actions have consequences, and we must carefully weigh our choices. The Israelites had faith and worshiped God even when complaining they were slaves. Having faith means that things will work out how they need to, even when it seems they won’t.

God was patient with Pharoah even when he was stubborn. God gave him lots of chances to be obedient. If God can be patient, so can we. We must be generous with our time to allow others time to process for themselves.

Remember the Story of the Plagues of Egypt the next time you see and hear hail. They are a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty and ability to use weather to accomplish His purposes.

Be faithful.
Answer God’s call to action.
Praise God for his patience.
Ask God for an abundance of patience.

Take a Deep Breath.

Breathe in patience and exhale stubbornness.

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