by Pastor Rich Carlson 

Between the last verse of Genesis and the first verse of Exodus about 400 years pass. That's almost twice as long as America has been a country!         

Sometimes such “meaningless" factoids can actually contribute to our understanding. In this particular case, I am reminded that the Bible did not transpire at the same rate at which I can read it. I can move from trouble to triumph in the same breath, but that is usually not how quickly these things actually happened. I am in danger of forgetting that.          

It’s helpful, for example, to remember that God groomed Moses to lead his people by having him tend sheep for 40 years! Forty years of work qualifies us for retirement in today’s society, but in God's timetable, Moses was just being prepared to begin his work during that 40-year stretch.          

I need to be reminded every day that I am His servant-in-training, and my I-want-it-now attitude often just doesn’t fit with God’s plans.         

Here are a couple of other lessons I have gleaned from the life of Moses as I’ve begun reading Exodus.         

1. God will make His will clear to me if there is a particular task to which He wants to call me.         

2. He can prepare me for whatever that calling is as long as I am willing to be attentive and allow Him to do whatever it takes to prepare me for the task.         

I am actually afraid to pray the prayer, "Lord, do whatever  it takes to make me what You want me to be." I want to pray that prayer, but I have to be honest with God (I might as well be since He knows this anyway), and I tell Him that I'm afraid of what such a prayer might produce. I think He's okay with my weakness and is still working with me, gently and kindly. Moses had so many excuses, and I guess I’ve got some of my own. So far, I'm at the I-want-to-be-willing stage; I haven’t fully mastered "I am willing."          

The life of Moses reminds me that God, in His love and mercy, is willing to work with whatever I can give Him.         

I'm not ready for retirement yet, earthly or heavenly. I'm still learning to trust, and to realize that when I stand on holy ground, I have a God who accepts whatever I offer, but He is also eager to get beyond my weaknesses and excuses and do greater things with me. I believe He's eager to do the same for all of us.          

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.