You do not know the meaning of frustration, until you attempt to accomplish, by human strength, something that can only be accomplished by God’s strength. The moment you look to man for something God alone can do, you set yourself up for some unpleasant experiences. It is this attitude that explains many of the failures we experience in life. God has admonished us in 1Corinthians 10:1-12, so as to help us avoid the trap of pride that caught the first generation of Israel, who left Egypt for the promised land.
Moses is a well-known Biblical character, whose exploits of faith still resound today. I am sure he is one of the great crowd of witnesses, who occupy the vast expanse of the unseen heavenly realm, and to whom the Bible points us as our predecessors in the faith. However, many people may not be aware that his earliest attempt to fulfil his calling, as a deliverer of Israel from bondage in Egypt, failed woefully. The following words of the Bible show why Moses failed : ” Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” (Ex 2:11-12).
It is noteworthy that Moses, though brought up in Egypt’s royal home, was aware of his Hebrew heritage. Remember, Pharaoh’s daughter had employed his mother, Jochebed, to nurse him. Moses was equally aware that God had called him to set Israel free from slavery in Egypt. When he became mature, he went to observe his brethren at work, and saw the burdens the Egyptians laid on them. You may be able to relate to the way Moses felt. The sight drew his ire. One of the pointers to a person’s assignment from God is what angers him or her enough to want a change. Then, to add salt to injury, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. That was the last straw. Moses scanned his surroundings, carefully, for any potential witness, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
That action may have brought him a sense of satisfaction, momentarily. After all, he had just avenged an Israelite. However, the aftermath proves that it was counterproductive : “And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.” (Ex 2:13-15). Moses had not expected the response he got from his own brethren, for as the Bible tells us, “… he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.” (Acts 7:25). Instead, their response was, ” ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” (Acts 7:27).
Moses had a rude awakening that underscores the following truth for us today : Mere human strength never serves God’s pleasure. As the Amplified version of the Bible puts it, “[Not in your own strength] for IT IS GOD WHO IS ALL THE WHILE EFFECTUALLY AT WORK IN YOU [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philip 2:13) (emphasis mine). It has to be God at work in you, if it is to work. Yes, Moses had royal upbringing and, “… was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.” (Acts 7:22). Those things, however, were not sufficient to energize and empower him for the work to which God had called him. Shalom.
