Nothing Wasted – Part 1

You don’t have to be around church long to hear the story of Moses and the burning bush. If you’re over 25 years of age and have graced the doors of a church more than twice as a child, I bet you saw this famous passage walked out by the use of a flannel board in Sunday school! If you’re under 25 and have no clue what a flannel board is, just be grateful for technology!This passage is front and center in my world right now as I’m studying on the topic of God’s holiness. The fact that God appeared to Moses from a blazing bush in the middle of the desert is spectacular. Can you imagine if you were out walking your dog and out of your neighbor’s nicely landscaped hedge came a fire that didn’t spread, followed by the voice of God? Just because the story may be familiar, don’t lose the fact that it was downright amazing.The more I studied the account, however, the more I saw God’s big picture. Remember, Moses spent his first 40 years living in the palace as the grandson to Pharaoh. He was the Hebrew who God spared in a spectacular way. These last 40 years, however, were the polar opposite. Moses was taking care of his father-in-law’s animals. By this point in Moses’ journey, you would think that he would’ve been able to get a flock of his own… but no. He was still the help.Moses must have felt forgotten. Any dreams he’d had of greatness had surely died decades ago. How many hours did he stand in the wilderness tending to the sheep and goats, second-guessing his impulse to kill the Egyptian that sent him running for his life? The sun had baked off any pride that may have developed after having been raised in the palace.But what captured my attention as I read God’s instructions to Moses was the fact that God was getting ready to use the last 40 years of Moses’ life. All those years in the wilderness were not going to waste. Moses had learned where every watering hole and every snake bed was in the land as he protected his father-in-law’s flock. Very soon, Moses would be using these very same skills to protect God’s flock as they walked through the desert.Perhaps you’re feeling insignificant or forgotten right now. Do you wonder if your life will ever make a difference? Do you second-guess a decision you made that sent you on a path you never intended?Ladies, our time in the wilderness can be used by the God of the Universe. There is nothing wasted. He makes no mistakes. Even more amazing, He can even use our mistakes to accomplish God-sized plans. Never forget… God has not forgotten you.