Your Daily Devotional for July 7, 2006

 

July 7, 2006

 

The Refining of Moses

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“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. 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. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”

 

Exodus 3:1-4

 

As we see in our text, God brought Moses to the land of Midian for a great purpose. Here, God was going to do a refining work in Moses’ heart to develop him into the great spiritual leader that we see in later chapters. What was Moses doing in the desert? He was receiving more schooling in character development.

 

Many times, God will bring Christians through similar trials to refine them and to develop their faith and character. 1 Peter 1:6 says, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” Why do we experience trials and difficulties? God’s Word says that we need it. Verse seven reveals God’s purpose, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” What circumstances will God use in our lives to refine us? Notice what God used in Moses’ life.

 

God refined Moses through unemployment. When Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh into the desert of Midian, he had no one to whom he could turn. He not only left all his family and friends, but he also left his source of employment. He had nothing! According to a survey published in the USA Today, about 20% of Americans worry about losing their jobs. Unemployment can cause great discouragement and a lack of self-worth, yet even a trial like this will refine us for God’s purpose.

 

While Moses was in Midian, God was still at work in his heart. God is not on a FedEx timetable. The Bible says in Psalm 37:34, “Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” Before you get discouraged in a time of unemployment or leave a job that seems to be going nowhere, ask God why He has you there and endeavor to be used of Him.

 

Moses was also refined through loneliness or isolation. Moses wasn’t in the desert to lead; he was in the desert to be led. God brought him there because He wanted his undivided attention.

 

Our church has supported Rick Martin, missionary to the Philippines, for many years. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Brother Martin in the beautiful city of Iloilo, where he pastors the Iloilo Baptist Church. I cannot imagine the loneliness Brother Martin must have experienced as he first moved to Iloilo twenty-five years ago. He was in a new country, with a new culture, and a new language. Yet, on this particular Friday night, with rain pouring down, people from all over drove, walked, and rode bikes or jeepneys to Iloilo Baptist Church. As I stood to speak, there were over 3,000 gathered to hear God’s Word.

 

Rick Martin learned the same truth that Moses learned in the middle of the desert: every trial is a part of God’s refining process. If you are in a season of heaviness through a burden or a trial, rejoice; thank God for it, and allow the Holy Spirit to develop your heart today.

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