Epic FailsSýnishorn

A murderer isn't often thought of as the first choice for spiritual leadership. In fact, we label those who fall into this dangerous category as the unforgivable and cast them to the fringe of society. However, God doesn't operate as we do and His ways are higher than ours! Moses is a perfect example of this.

For the first 40 years of his life, Moses grew up in Pharaoh's house where he had everything he could ever want--power, money, prestige, notoriety--yet like any man growing up in an idolatrous world, there was a major gap between who he was born to be and where he currently was.

There is a time in Moses' life when he is living in Pharaoh's house yet knows he is truly Hebrew. He's out walking and observes an Egyptian slave driver beating a Hebrew. Moses murders the Egyptian and buries him in the sand. The next day he realizes there were witnesses and soon the news travels to Pharaoh, who attempts to kill Moses. Moses flees to the land of Midian and this is where his 40-year journey with God begins.

Moses, who had been one of the most powerful people in the world and had all the comforts he could ever want now lived in obscurity shepherding flocks for his father-in-law, Jethro. He spent long days and nights in the wilderness on his own; evenings under the stars contemplating life and his purpose as he sat with the animals. Conversations with God about the dreams in his heart and reconciling how he could be used for God's glory out in the wilderness.

Moses spent a long time in Pharaoh's house and in the world. I believe that Moses spent 40 years in obscurity so that God could pull those things from the world out in order to make Moses into the leader he would use to bring Israel out of captivity. We often fantasize Moses' great years of ministry and leading Israel towards the Promised Land, yet we overlook his 40 years in the wilderness. We want his influence but not his preparation.

To you who feels lost in the desert, longing to see one dream come true, hold on. If you're still bursting to move forward, take a moment to evaluate where you're at. Chances are there is something from your time spent in the world God is trying to get out through some pruning.

God took a murderer from the world's stage, sent him into obscurity overseeing sheep, and transformed that man into a great leader who would deliver a nation. Now that's a powerful testimony if I've ever heard one.