The Life of Moses: Finishing Well

Exodus 12:31-32 “Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. “Get out!” he ordered. “Leave my people—and take the rest of the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you said, and be gone. Go, but bless me as you leave.”

As we go through life, we all have a choice to give up or finish well. No matter what you do, ultimately you will face hardships, trials, and storms that will get the better of others, the question is will they get the better of you? The truth is your response to the negative events in your life will determine your future. When we give up, we end up facing that same trials again but when we persevere and finish well. The struggle becomes easier the next time.

When I was a kid my grandparents lived on the inter-costal waterway in Florida. The waterway they were on, Blind pass, separated the towns/islands of St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island. The pass was about 300 feet across, basically the length of a football field. I started out swimming with my family and I would go 10 to 20 feet out in front of the dock but would turn back. Eventually I made it a quarter of the way, a third of the way, and finally halfway. I can tell you getting to that halfway point was tough. The water was dark and the theme from Jaws would go through my head the farther out I swam. Fear would cause me to turn back on many occasions no matter how much friends and family members encouraged me. Finally I passed the halfway point and I realized it was a shorter swim to the other side than to turn back. I had finally made it. Exhausted we relaxed on a little sandbar beach on the other side. The swim back while tough was not as hard as the swim across and it became easier and easier to do. Occasionally the theme from Jaws still goes through my head but I learned to push it aside and keep going. I had made it and persevered, I had finished well.

Now a short swim like that may not compare to the trial or struggle you are facing but the principle like the principal Moses faced is the same. That is to keep trying and pressing on. For Moses he performed nine miracles in front of Pharaoh and each time Pharaoh said no, finally came the tenth miracle/plague. 10 times to finally get the words he had been waiting to hear and not have Pharaoh immediately change his mind. Moses and Aaron persevered through their trial with Pharaoh to leave Egypt and it prepared them for an even bigger trial to come, the wilderness.

Today you too may be going through a struggle or trial. Decide today to place your faith and hope in Christ. The trial you are facing may seem tough while you are in it and you may be ready to throw in the towel and give up. Persevere and make the commitment to finish well. The rejoicing of finishing the trial or race is much better than the bitterness of failure.

#FinishingWell #iDevo #YFA