Moses
Last Easter, I rewatched the classic movie “The Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston. (Honestly, I’m glad I didn’t know how long it was before I started, or my sister would never have agreed to watch it. But once we started, we had to finish.)
I have to admit it was pretty cheesy. Special effects and CGI have come a long way since this film was made, and some parts were downright laughable. I was also surprised how far they drifted from the actual Biblical account of Moses. There were several times we laughingly said, “That didn’t happen.”
But there was one part they got right. As Hebrews 11 tells us, there came the point in Moses’ life where he chose to give up all that it meant to be a royal in Egypt to identify with the people of Israel. This choice cost him everything. From prince to shepherd, Moses' life changed because he chose to ride or die with God.
But that’s just the beginning of the story. Moses’ choice to follow God continued after the burning bush experience when God called him to go back to Egypt and lead His people to the Promised Land. It’s one thing to leave a place or position. It’s another to go back and tell the greatest power in the world that God is going bring plagues against them for how they treat His people.
Remember: Moses knew these people. He knew the evil in their hearts. He was well aware that, except for God’s protection, he was as good as dead.
Still, he went.
And God brought the plagues, and eventually, he led the Israelites out of Egypt.
But that still wasn’t the end of the story.
Moses’ story continues for forty more years as he leads the Israelites through the wilderness…ride or die.
This was no easy task as the Israelites were stubborn, complaining, often faithless people more inclined to go back to Egypt than follow God as Moses led.
Still, in faith, Moses continued to follow God.
His life reminds us that the choice to ride or die with God is more than a one-time event. Although there are burning bush experiences, choosing to follow God whatever it takes means walking with God daily. Good. Bad. Highs and lows. Through the days when the Red Sea parts to the days when you just want to leave all the people in the wilderness to fend for themselves, you keep following God and doing what He calls you to do.
Ride or die.
By: Jamie Holden, Mantour Ministries
Today’s Verse:
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. (Hebrews 11:24-29, NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.