The choice of Faith

It’s tempting to blame the past for what we are today. Moses is a great example of someone who made right choices by faith, despite his past, and was mightily used by God.

He didn’t have a brilliant beginning. Pharaoh had ordered the execution of all baby boys and Moses’ life was in danger. His parents hid him, but, because they trusted God, they weren’t afraid. They took the risk of faith, rather than fear the consequences of their action. Moses experienced trauma in childhood and was brought up in a family and culture other than his own. On more than one occasion he was the victim of circumstances, but he didn’t let this keep him from fulfilling the purposes of God in his life. Many people have had troubled beginnings. The lesson we learn from Moses is that it’s not so much what happens to us that determines our future, but how we deal with our past.

As an adult, Moses made a life-changing decision. He chose to identify himself with God’s people and forfeit his rights as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. This meant hardship and disgrace, danger and discouragement, desert wanderings and despair. But by faith he followed God’s call on his life and went God’s way. Our choices are determined by faith. The choice of faith might mean sacrifice. It’s only by faith that we can choose to go for the things that please God rather than pleasing ourselves. Like Moses we’re called to suffer for the purposes of God rather than live for pleasure.

God seems to delight in using weak people. As the greatest leader of all time Moses led God’s people out of Egypt across the Red Sea. We’re told that when he left Egypt he didn’t fear the king’s anger. His faith overcame fear. He was looking ahead. His eyes were fixed on the reward to come. His life was rooted in the purposes of the God who had called him and who would be faithful to the end of the journey.

The God of history is our God. The one who worked miracles for Moses is just the same today. He’s the God of the impossible and He asks us to trust in Him. He’s faithful to His word. His power is immense. However small our faith may be, if it’s in Him, it’s always sufficient, because God’s strength is made perfect in weak people.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You are unchanging and true. Thank You that You give me the strength to do whatever You ask of me as I trust in You. Thank You that I’m not a victim of my past, but I’m Your child with a purpose in life that no-one else can fulfil. Amen.