Out in the Wilderness

Ever thought of Moses, a man brought up in a palace and who lived most of his life in the wilderness?  Seriously, he was born Hebrew of slaves under the rule of a Pharaoh and whose people were all "slave" workers who had to build with straw and mud. Lifted out of water to become the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and being protected by God. For whatever his Hebrew name was, only his parents would have known, for he was renamed Moses by the Princess! Educated in all things taught, yes, by Janees and Jimbrees. Remember them? But ultimately Moses was taught their "wisdom". He was certainly kept from harm.  He was protected by God Himself to see a day when Moses would serve God's purposes!

But seriously, have you known someone who lived in the "lap of luxury"? Like Moses, even from his birth, it looked like the devil was trying to kill him! Taken as a small baby from his family to live in a palace and learn the ways of the Egyptians. That was a "big cost" to the family who gave birth to him and loved him dearly.   Moses, the one drawn out of the water, to live in a palace and learn the ways of the Egyptians and to one day hide in the wilderness, tend to sheep and see and be 'in awe of' a burning bush' that was never consumed. It was his command from God that would take place "out in the wilderness".

Now I am certain you have had heard many teachings on this scripture passage, but I totally believe Moses could not go forward with God's plan till God commanded it to be so.

Are we zealous for the Lord, but not in the right manner to stay safe within the borders of God's protection? In the beginning, Moses, was jumping too fast and too far to rescue those he was sent to rescue. In so doing in an out of order fashion, he ran for his life. He ran from his past of palaces, and good food, to a lifestyle from prince to peasant!  And he ran to Midian, a place in the wilderness. He ran from strife he entered in with two men in the city and ended up in the Midian, the place meaning "strife".
It was a big change in scenery for Moses!
Moses changed his clothes from the lifestyle he knew to something he knew nothing about. He changed his location, and entire life and God came to speak with him. What will God do for us, when we give something up that we do not need in our lives?

Then we come to the burning bush! Exodus 3:1-12..............3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." 4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." 6 Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." NKJV

When we moved out west, we had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people who love the Lord. In all our times at church and meetings and conferences, we saw people with a heart for God. But for me, I saw two women who would always stand out to me. One lady was probably about 15 years older than me, could quote the Bible and knew so much of the Lord's walk on this earth. I always had some kind of question for her.

Another lady was about 9 years younger than I. These two women certainly were those who were fire to me. They knew the Word of God and loved to pray. They had story after story of the absolute goodness of God and His Love! One always had testimonies of healing and wholeness restored to those she prayed for and the other had testimony after testimony of prayer and Bible studies in the Jail Ministry. She would tell of those receiving Jesus for the first time ever. Well, my first thought was to stay within the confines of four walls and safety and learn much from the older lady, but no, I knew when the latter woman spoke of Jail Ministry, that was my burning bush moment. I had to follow the course that God had set for me. And my getting of the badge to enter jail for ministry certainly took less time than any one else had experienced before. Yes, I had favor with those who worked in the jail and learned not to fear as God was with me. I got that new badge, reported to the "metal detector" and headed for Chapel. I was being trained under leadership that would take me places I had not been before.

I know for many, that just the slamming of all those metal doors makes one shake and quake, but I knew I was going in with the Word of God and no one could leave till chapel was done. Yes, we were all locked in together, and God would have His way in that place.

I thought of Moses, and his ability to teach Joshua. He trained him so much so, that Joshua became his successor. Both Moses and Joshua had a walk with God. Both were born in Egypt, experienced the Exodus together, escaped slavery through God our Redeemer, walked in the wilderness and saw the "new Land". Although Moses did not enter Canaan, he trained someone who could take it further according to God's plan.

Much like these two, I was trained by a great lady. She so loved the Lord and gave her all for His kingdom and it showed in what she did and what she spoke!   When this great leader left this Outreach Ministry, another was in charge, and she took a new approach, "a little more country style" but no less powerful. She too, loved the Lord and together we saw many come to the Lord in salvation. When she left, a lot of the team, (99.9 percent of them went with her). But God showed me to stay and take the land. I stayed, "much like the cheese stands alone thing" if anyone remembers those days, but prayerful a team came together and was multiplied with me leading.  It was an Outreach Ministry that God raised up Himself! And I was excited to be in front to see it all come to His plan.

Yikes! How did I get here? Well, I saw the moment the command came. Much like Moses, his command came when God told him in Exodus 3 and verse 10..."so now, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

Like Joshua, I too, had to lead others. I wanted to do it in the way that people would know that they were truly valued like Moses did with Joshua. So I finish with this: When Joshua got the command from God through Moses...........Joshua 1:6-9................6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  NIV

Joshua was told to be strong and courageous. I too, had to be strong and courageous. And God was with Joshua and with me. We are told that Joshua and people he led came to the Jordan River.

Yes, it is the next morning............command to go, and Joshua broke camp at Shittim and moved down to the edge of the Jordan which at this time is out of its banks because it is time of the harvest...........the river overflowed...............Yes, Let' make our entrance! (see in Joshua 3:15)

It was on the third day that the people were instructed to march forward...........river flooding in front of us..........what........? what are you saying.........."march forward"! The people moved in order, with the priests bearing the Ark in the lead, and when their came to middle of the flooding river, the waters divided. Now some of the commentaries I have read, even state that the water did not part till the priests were in the middle of the swollen river! (well, that meant that muddy water and debris went over their heads. And they had to hold the Ark of the Covenant above their heads to keep it out of the water and debris) As the waters parted and pushed back for a distance in both directions, the priests remained in the middle of the dry ground till all of Israel had passed by to the Promised Land. Then as soon as the priests moved over and touched the dry ground of the "new land",  the waters returned to overflow it banks as before. (Joshua 4:1-18)

We are to see and hear when God commands us to go. We are to be growing in the knowledge of God………..always growing, being renewed to His way and His doing of things. Will we go for Him, or will we choose comfort, safety and gain no ground for His kingdom? Are we waiting for fall season to arrive……..and children to go back to school?    Will the world’s schedule always interfere with God’s plan for us.? Will there always be a lion in the street, and the Jordan always be overflowing its banks?

Not everything will be done in the city behind four walls! We have to see that place we are called! 

In summation, God can use each of us. Whether born in a palace or bondage, born with a different skin color, born male or female, born in the city or the country, and does not matter whether you are young or old, divorced, short, tall, heavy, thin or bald, God has a plan for each of us! Be like Joshua and know that you are a conqueror! God is more than enough, more powerful to get His plan accomplished..........we just need to say "YES"!

Father, we want to be doing what You have asked us to do! I ask You to help us to see the "burning bush" We do not want to jump ahead to the next thing without completing the "new thing" before us! I pray that we would be those who desire to see Your kingdom expand. We pray to be those who are strong and courageous to inherit that YOU swore to give to us. We look not to turn to the right or to the left but that we would keep our eyes on YOU. Truly Your word will not depart from our mouths. We set ourselves to meditate on it day and night to be careful to everything written therein. We understand that YOU will be with us wherever we go...........YOU have sent us to heal the broken-hearted and to bind up their wounds. According to Joshua 23:9-13.......we believe and hold fast that you have driven out nations before us and that no one will be able to stand against us this day. We extend our love and thanks to YOU and receive with whole hearts that good land which the Lord our God has given us in Jesus Name. Amen (Joshua 23.13)

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV