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Winfred Clark
If
you will look for this phrase in your Bible, you will find it in
Hebrews 11:27. It is spoken of Moses after a long and eventful life.
A life that was lived in service to God. When you think of one enduring,
you think of one facing opposition or some kind of difficulties.
This was the case with this good man. It was not easy for him, not
is it for any man who seeks to do the Will of the Lord. Yet, it
is said of him "he endured". That just means, "he kept
on keeping on." Can we find some of the things he endured? Can we
measure the man by what he faced? Can we see what it cost him to
be faithful? I believe we can.
1.
HE FACED THE CONTEMPT OF A RULER
When Moses went to
Egypt, he was to tell Pharaoh to let God's people go. His answer
was, "who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel
go?" (Exodus 5:2). The man who sat on the throne of Egypt had
no regard for the God that Moses served. He showed nothing
but contempt for the commands of God. He was not a believer nor
could he see why others would believe.
This can have its effect
in the hearts and minds of people. For example. A young man or woman
might find themselves in a classroom, surrounded with atheistic
thinking. They will find such folks do not believe there is a God.
They will deny the very existence of God. In fact, they will challenge
the Bible itself What then is that young person to do? When he hears
the Bible challenged or God mocked, what is his reaction to be?
The same attitude is to be present as was in the case of Moses.
There was no surrender of his faith just because a man like Pharaoh
did not believe what he had to say. He knew what God had said and
that was enough for him. He knew there was a God that was superior
to all the gods of Egypt. He knew God had sent him on the mission,
along with Aaron. Knowing all of this would
help him to endure.
2.
HE ENDURED IN SPITE OF COMPLAINTS
One doesn't have to
go far with Moses and the children of Israel into the wilderness
before he is aware of one complaint after another. All of this was
true in spite of things God did for them. They had been brought
out of Egypt with a strong arm. They had seen wondrous things, but
still they were given to complaints. They had all they could need,
yet then would still complain. (Such complaints are registered in
Exodus 16:2-3).
3.
HE ENDURED IN SPITE OF CRITICISM
Moses was no more immune
to criticism than any other man. Any man that is placed in a position
of responsibility like this is bound to face it. You will find that
even his own kin would criticize him (Numbers
12:1-2).
The question is not
"Will one be criticized? " That is going to occur. The real question
is, "How will one react when such comes? " We know how it was handled
in the case of Moses. He is said to be "very meek, above all
the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3).
That means Moses had his feelings under control. It means he could
keep his balance in a very difficult and trying situation.
When later others accused
Moses of taking too much upon himself, he will show the same kind
of self control. He would not allow himself to make matters worse
than they already were. He would allow the Lord to take care of
the matter in His own way. That is the way he would handle criticism.
He endured and so can we.
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