In spite of

When things have not gone as I have wished during this transition period, I often find myself wondering if I have done something that has short-circuited God's plan. You know, maybe I acted on what I thought was God's voice, but it was really my own, and by doing so I spoiled all the plans God had for me (and quite probably the entire known world for generations to come).

That was the general direction I was heading in my prayers this morning when God, as he often does, led me to a Bible story. It was the story of Moses.

If you remember, Moses was born at an inconvenient time for Hebrew babies of the male gender. Pharaoh had decreed that they all should be killed. Moses' mother hid him for three months, but realized that she couldn't forever hide the fact that he was a boy. If they had been people of means, they might have paid somebody to spirit Moses out of Egypt. Then he could have at least lived out his life as a shepherd in some nearby desert. But Moses' folks are slaves and have no money, so Mom puts him in a waterproof basket and hides him in the reeds of the Nile River. And, miraculously, he is discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. Moses grows up in Pharaoh's own household. God had so much more planned than Moses' parents could ever have envisioned.

God orchestrates these improbable events so Moses could be in the perfect spot to deliver the Hebrew people out of slavery. But then, what happens next? Moses sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and in a moment of passionate fury kills him. Pharaoh gets wind of it and tries to kill Moses. So, Moses flees Egypt and becomes a shepherd in the nearby desert. He's right back where he was before God's miracle. In one foolish moment, Moses had completely spoiled God's plan.

And that's why the Hebrew people are still slaves in Egypt today.

Oh, now that you mention it, you're right, they're not. And that's the point. God never gave up on his plan. And, just as important, God didn't give up on Moses. Sure, he had to drag him in front of a burning bush to get his attention, but ultimately God accomplished his purpose. He brought Moses back to Egypt, and brought Israel out.

Maybe it was a lot tougher than it had to be. Maybe God wouldn't have had to use the plagues, or at least as many of them, if Moses had been on the right page from the beginning. Maybe the book of Exodus would have been a few chapters shorter. But at worst, Moses only complicated God's plan, he didn't ruin it. Despite Moses' best (worst?) efforts, God pulled it off. And he did it with Moses. God delivered Israel through Moses--and in spite of Moses.

That gives me hope.

If through ignorance, fear, or downright disobedience, I find myself at crossed purposes with God, he won't give up on me. If I'm willing to stand barefoot in front of the burning bush and get on the same page with him, he has the ability to bring about his plan.

With me and in spite of me.