Key scripture – “The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.” (Exodus 12:37-38).

Do you want to know How God prepares someone for big assignments? Look at the mission Moses was given and you will get a good idea.

He was called to deliver an entire nation from slavery. The assignment was to bring six hundred thousand men, on foot, out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. In addition to all those men, there were women and children. Talk about a big assignment! Imagine the logistics of such an endeavor.

God prepared Moses by allowing him to grow up from infancy under the ways of Egypt. He learned their customs, their idols, and was a favored son of Pharaoh until God revealed Moses’ birthright to him.

“Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:5-10).

Moses began to realize God had placed him in the court of Pharaoh, but he also realized that he was not one of them and he was being called back to his own people. But instead of waiting on God to give him direction, He ran ahead of God and he tried to deliver his people using the ways of Egypt, when he murdered an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew.

“One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” (Exodus 2:11-12).

After he did that God banished him to the land of Midian for additional training in order to teach him that he was not supposed to lean on his own understanding but to wait on God, and do things God’s way.

God guided Moses to Midian because the Midianites were of the seed of Abraham, and they retained the worship of the true God among them. God allowed Moses to learn the trade of shepherding sheep for forty years while living in the arid dry land moving sheep around to places where water and grass could be found. The desert was a place of preparation for one of the greatest assignments given to one man. Did you hear what I just said? Yes, the desert was the place of preparation.

Moses was battle-trained in the same environment where he would spend another forty years to bring a stubborn and willful people out of slavery.

“Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:10-12).

What kind of assignment is God preparing you for? Does He have you in the desert of preparation? Learn well the lessons that you are there to learn. You may find you are called to be a deliverer, just like Moses.

Pray this -Our Precious Heavenly Father, open the eyes of my heart and mind and give me the wisdom and strength that I need while I am in the desert. I know that You are using this to change me so that I can be used to bring glory to You and Your Kingdom. Forgive me for complaining and grumbling about my circumstances, while I am in the desert. Forgive me for not trusting You, but instead leaning on my own understanding. Teach me how to wait patiently on You. I know that You are right here with me and that You are strengthening and changing me. You are the potter and I am the clay, and when You are done shaping me into someone who looks more like Jesus, then You will move me from the desert to Canaan, the Promised Land. You “know the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10). I want to be fit to be used by You to help other brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to Your purpose.(Romans 8:28). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.