photo credit: ianmunroe
Exo 4:1-3
Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.'”
The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”
And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.
Theologian John S. Dunne tells the story of a group of Spanish explorers seeking a new land. After a long and arduous journey, they happened to arrive at the continent of South America just at the mouth of the Amazon River. But, because the Amazon is the greatest river in the world, with a mouth of 202 miles wide at the discharge point into the Atlantic Ocean, these sailors did not recognize the river at all; they assumed it to be part of the Ocean.
The Amazon contains over 20% of the world’s fresh water and this discharge of fresh water can be detected over 200 miles out into the ocean. But these Spanish sailors, although sailing in the largest supply of fresh water in the world, did not recognize it. Of course they knew that drinking salt water could be fatal, so, with nourishing, fresh water all around them, some died of thirst.
Is it possible that you are like those sailors? Could it be that the dream you are pursuing is at your fingertips, but you simply don’t recognize it? Moses’ mistake was in thinking about what he did not have instead of what he did have. Perhaps he didn’t have a great speaking demeanor, but he did have a staff. I believe the staff of Moses represents the life experiences he has been through. After all, he had been a shepherd for 40 years at this point and the staff is the shepherd’s primary tool, used for walking, guiding sheep, killing snakes and various other needs. It was Moses’ time to shepherd an entire nation. God didn’t need an eloquent speaker; he needed a shepherd and he had been training Moses for just this purpose. His time was now. He was ready; he just didn’t realize it.
Do your life experiences seem mundane? Do you feel like your years have been wasted? Think again. In God’s economy, nothing is wasted. He wants to use you, right now, just as you are, with all of your baggage. In fact, whether you realize it or not, he has been preparing you. All you need to do is look at what is in your hand and give it to him.
Your dreams are closer than you think.
this is a real motivator since i have dreams so lofty that they border on the outlandish. I guess i am not going to be those mediocre people that the bible talks about heh?
kenyantykoon
Lofty dreams are the only way to go. When they border on the outlandish you know you are on track.
Thanks for sharing…you are motivating me to expand the scope of my dreams. Who wants to be mediocre?
Thank you for this article. I just got a promotion and I’ve been doubting that I can do the new job. This article reminded me that God never gives us more then we can handle and that He’s brought me to where I am today. I have to continue to trust in Him. Thank you again. This reminder has really helped put my heart at peace.
Suzy,
Congrats on the promotion! Isn’t it great to realize that God has been working in your life to bring you where you are? You can have every confidence that the same God will continue to work in your life to take you where He wants you to be. Life is exciting!
I am glad the post helped. Thanks for reading.
good stuff!
I agree to you. God Will use us in spite of who we are and what are are going through. He’s preparing each one of us for his glory. All we need to do is to alow him to take over our life.
Kathrine,
Well said. God always goes ahead of us. We might not realize what He is preparing, but that doesn’t mean He hasn’t made those preparations. Our part is to “open our eyes”.
That’s why its very important to seek God and ask him about his plans for us. For he knows what is best and what is good. Well written article Joe.
Helen,
Thanks. It is so easy to look at our dire circumstances and conclude that God must have forgotten about us. But reality is that, as you say, He knows best. If we allow ourselves to give up our own plans, we will see His plans.