In the book of Exodus, we learn that the Jewish people eventually became the slaves of the Egyptians. They were abused, tortured, and forced into harsh labor. Surprisingly, they didn’t cry out to God for help until many decades later. However, as soon as they did, God raised up a man named Moses to deliver them from their bondage and lead them into their destiny.

You remember the burning bush right? The radical encounter Moses had with God? Well, in chapters 3 and 4, God and Moses talk back and forth, and everything seems to make sense. It’s clear that God wants to deliver the Jews from Egypt. However, in Exodus 4:21, God says something that just doesn’t seem to fit. God tells Moses that He is going to “harden Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh will NOT let the people go.”

When you read chapter 5, you learn that the conditions of slavery reach unimaginable levels of inhumanity. Things get far worse before they get better. Not only that, but God sends plague after plague after plague. Ten in all. This doesn’t happen in ten days either. It could’ve been months, or even more than a year…

Here’s a question that may be on your mind. “If God could’ve delivered the Jewish people from their suffering right away, why didn’t He?” Keep this in mind: Eventually, God killed every firstborn Egyptian male and the Egyptian army. Why didn’t He just do that right away? Why did He prolong this chaos?

The answer is this: God uses opposition for His purposes.

In Exodus 7:3-5 and Exodus 8:19 we learn that God is prolonging His people’s deliverance, because He loves not only the Jews, but also the Egyptians. Yahweh wants the Egyptians to discover who the real God is, so that they will give their hearts to Him.

In Exodus 9:13-16 we learn that God is doing this because He loves not only the Jews and Egyptians, but also the entire world. Keep in mind that people considered Egypt to be the most successful nation on the planet. Because of these prolonged plagues, the world would take notice of what was happening and learn that the hope for humanity does not rest in human technological advancements, educational achievements, or religious teachings about false gods. The hope of the world is in the hands of the one true God, Yahweh.

In Exodus 10:1-2, we learn that God is doing something in Egypt that the Jewish people will never, ever forget. Oh how easily we pawn off spiritual experiences as mere coincidences. We get passionate for a day, a week, a month… then we forget that the experience was real, and we forget what life is really about. If God would’ve delivered the Jewish people immediately, they would’ve forgotten the One who made it all happen.

God uses opposition for His purposes.

In the skit above, we discover a Gorilla who unknowingly consumes a poisonous substance. When the man in camouflage comes on the scene with a gun, the Gorilla mistakes him for a hunter who wishes to harm him. However, this “hunter” is merely trying to help. He shoots the Gorilla with a tranquilizer, so that the proper remedy may be administered. Things get worse before they get better, but this is all a necessary part of the plan.

I’m not saying God WANTS you to be sick… or to lose your job… or to go through whatever difficult situations you’re going through… but I am saying this… God uses opposition for His purposes.

Your suffering isn’t just random chaos that will amount to nothing. God can use your circumstances to bless you and to bless people who know you.

If you were here Sunday, you heard Josh’s incredible story. WOW! If not, you really missed out. We’ll try and post it later. Right now I’d like to invite you to share a story of how God used opposition in your life for His purposes. Thanks for reading!

I grew up in a small town in Indiana. You know what that means? That means I ate, drank, and slept basketball… 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To this day, I can vividly recall the summer of 1995. While I was attending a basketball camp, a player from the NBA spoke to a gym full of high school freshmen. He told us that everyone in the room could eventually play in the NBA, if they just worked hard enough.

I ate up every word that guy said, and took them all to heart. About a year later, I realized that was some serious bull. It didn’t matter how hard I worked, because there were some physical limitations that would make it impossible for me to play in the NBA. So, I kept playing basketball, but I gave up on my dream of playing in the NBA, which was a good thing, because it wasn’t God’s dream for me.

The truth is, God has a dream for you and for me… a dream that includes accomplishing things greater than anything you witnessed in the video above. God’s plan is that we will “Be disciples and make disciples.” God had this same plan for Israel. He planned for them to have an intimate relationship with Him, the maker of all creation. He also planned to take them to a land called Canaan… a land where they would have the ability to make massive world impact. His plan was that they would lead the world into relationship with God.

However, their calling seemed to be seriously detoured when they ended up in slavery in Egypt. Eventually, God raised up Moses to carry the torch in this plan of greatness. Moses reacted the same way most of us do when we hear that God has a plan for us, a plan greater than the record breaking home runs of Barry Bonds… a mission more life-changing than the spectacular moves of Michael Jordan.

Moses said, “Who am I to carry out such a plan?” At the time, Moses was around 80 years old. He had a speech impediment. He tried to lead the Jews before, but they rejected him… so he ran away from home. He didn’t even grow up in a Jewish family setting in the first place.

God responded to Moses’ insecurity. However, God didn’t use the pop-psychology tactics of Dr. Phil, or the self-esteem boosting antics of Tony Robbins. God didn’t tell Moses how “special” he was. God didn’t lend him a self-help book. God didn’t prescribe him any drugs to deal with his depression.

God merely said, “I will be with you.”

That’s all Moses needed. And that’s all we need. The presence of God.

May you and I believe this radical truth, and seek after the presence of God more today than we did yesterday.

What a weekend we just had!

These last few days have been a trip! We moved everything out of our former building, stored it in multiple people’s homes and garages, planned, prepared for and orchestrated a beautiful wedding, set up lots of equipment at John Glenn High School, had an incredible communal experience with God on Sunday, and tore down all the equipment we set up.

Now we’re getting ready for this coming Sunday, and we know God will have some new goodies for us! He always does

I could go on all day about how happy I am with this new direction God is leading us, but I’d really love to hear from you!

So, Ekklesians, what are your thoughts and reactions to this John Glenn journey Jesus is taking us on?

Feel free to answer any of the following questions, or answer however you want:

What do you like best? What has God been saying to you? How do you see this helping you to better accomplish your life’s purpose, “Be disciples. Make disciples.”?