Fight, Flight, or Fruit

God has a plan for your life and will work through all your ups and down to accomplish His kingdom purposes.

“The woman conceived and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her servant to get it...The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.” In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand...Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known...Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock."

Exodus 2:1-3, 5, 8-12, 14-17, 19-22

Moses was saved from certain death by Pharaoh's own daughter. He tried to take things into his own hands and ended up having to flee just to survive. Moses was made to be a deliverer. When he is living in his kingdom identity no one can stop him. He delivers the priest's daughter and she becomes his wife. He was made to deliver not destroy.

What causes us to take things into our own hands and walk in a false identity? Is it not fear? What fears are you listening to that need to be silenced so you can live true to who you are made to be?  

“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches...I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever. I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good"

Psalms 52:7-9 

Our actions show what we trust in. Moses trusted in his own strength and killed a man only to delay God's plan forty years. Imagine all the nights he must have been afraid of someone finding out who he was. David sings of a man who trusts in his possessions, but David know possessions don't protect our hearts from fear. David declares that he trusts in what God has done and what He will do. Do you? What do your actions, how you spend your time today, say about what you trust in?

“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge...Keep your foot from their path, for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood...Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Proverbs 1:7, 15-16, 23, 33

 Wisdom says to trust in God and trust in His timing. When we see how great the Almighty God is, we can put our problems in the right perspective. So often our problems can feel bigger than the God who we turn to when we need help. This is where knowing and trusting God make all the difference.

Wisdom says to trust in His timing. Do not rush to shed blook like Moses did. One of the most critical factors that produce conflict is the pressure of timing. The biological response to conflict can be fight or flight, but there is a better way. When we create space to listen to the voice of God then we can allow truth to lead us rather than fear. Where do you need to trust God and His timing today?

“my people shall know my name...How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace...Break out into joy! Sing together...for Yahweh has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. For you shall not go out in haste, neither shall you go by flight; for Yahweh will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

Isaiah 52:3, 6-7, 9, 12

Isaiah says you do not need to hurry and you do not need to worry for God is going before you, beside you, and behind you. He is your comfort and redeemer. He is your strong tower and your shield. He has a plan for peace, personal relationship and how to turn your life into a proclaimer of the good news that He is Lord of All. How much better would you feel if you let go of hurry and worry?

“Soon afterwards, he went...preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom...Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation. What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity. Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance."

Luke 8:1, 11-15, 20-21, 43-48 

Moses was made to produce fruit that would deliver God's people and help them draw closer to God. The heart is complex and the good news is the soil of our hearts can be tilled. The story is not yet written on what we will do with our lives. Moses was saved from death, murdered an Egyptian, then fled to a foreign country. But God was not done with him and He is not done with us. God is the great redeemer and is calling us to tell the truth about where we are in our walk with Him.

What is the soil of your heart like? What crop are you producing? How are the cares and pleasures of the world impacting your relationship with Jesus? How are the worries or fears impacting your heart? Allow Jesus to till the soil of your heart so like Moses you can step into your Kingdom calling. How do we do it? Allow the Holy Spirit to till, toil, and teach you how to love like Jesus. Like Moses, it is never too late, you are never too far, and God is not done writing His story through you.