God Moves People

Please let me go…Exodus 4:18

After Moses became convinced God wanted him to lead His people out of Egypt, he went to Jethro, his father-in-law. Moses said, please let me go and return to my brethren in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive. Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

God’s people had been in Egypt long enough. Life there had become too toxic. It was time for them to go. Most did not want to leave. Moses had to convince them to go. Not only them, but also Pharaoh. Pharaoh did not want them to leave. It took ten plagues to convince Pharaoh and the people it was time to go.

God had another plan for His people. This new plan did not include living in Egypt. It was time to leave. This new plan included working together; not for Pharaoh, but for God. Not in Egypt, but in Canaan. To arrive in Canaan, they had to leave Egypt. It is easier to go somewhere new than to leave where you are. God often has to prod us to move along.

To get to this new place God wants us to be we have to leave where we are. As God reveals His new plans for us, we must abandon our plans. God may appoint new leaders as He did in the wilderness. Eventually Joshua will lead God’s people into Canaan and not Moses. 

After Moses had said his goodbyes to Jethro, God said: Go, return to Egypt. For all the men who sought your life are dead, Verse 19. Well, that is a relief. Verse 10: Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand. 

Moses returned to Egypt to call God’s people out. The Greek word translated ‘church’ literally means “to be called out.” The church is made up of people who have answered God’s call to leave. To go, we must trust God. We must allow Him to work out His plan of redemption. So, if we really want to be a part of what God is doing, we must be open to change. God sent Philip to preach to the Ethiopian and then sent him to Caesarea. God moves people to where the gospel is needed.