This we begin the book of Shemot (Names). This is the book we call Exodus. Here we have the origin story of Moses. Moses finds out he is actually a Hebrew. He then sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Moses then looks around and sees no one is around him then he kills the Egyptian. Moses then buries the Egyptians body in the sand. The next day Moses sees 2 Hebrews arguing and stops them. They then ask him if he is going to kill them as well. Moses realizes people know what he has done. He becomes fearful and runs away from Egypt.

Moses then heads to Midian where he sees a group of female Shepards who were trying to water their sheep. They were chased off by other Shepards. Moses sees this and rescues the girls and draws out water for the sheep. These lady Shepards were the daughters of the Priest of Midian Reuel also know as Jethro. Here Moses is welcomed in given a wife and trained in the ways of God. Have you every wandered how Jethro knew God? To understand this we have to go back to Genesis 25.

Genesis 25:1-2 NLT
“Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.”

We also learn in this chapter Abraham dies at 175 years old. Sarah dies at 127 years which made Abraham 137 years old when she died. Abraham lived 38 years after Sarah’s death. He married another woman named Keturah who gave Abraham 6 sons. One of those sons were Midian. Jethro is a the Priest of Midian a direct descendant of Abraham. Abraham trained all his children in the ways of God.

Moses spent 40 years learning the ways of the world. He began to feel a pulling towards his calling. He approached it the world’s way and killed a man. Moses then runs into the wilderness and ends up in Midian. Where God ordained his footsteps. Moses was a righteous man and God laid out his footsteps back to a relative who would teach him who he really is. Moses was trained by Jethro for 40 years before he has an encounter with God. Moses was trained year for year in the world and by the Priest of Midian. After being trained to be a Shepard now God is telling Moses it is now the time to fulfill your calling. Moses it is time for you to Shepard 2 million people in the wilderness.

Now you may have felt a pulling from your calling. You may have gotten ahead of God. It is ok. Now is the time to work on your character development. Now is the time to be trained in the ways of God. Become the best version of yourself. Invest into yourself in this season. Now look at our recent history. We had a man who is extremely intelligent in the ways of the world who has a calling to be the president of the United States. His 1st term he did it the way the world told him how to do it. He followed the world’s advice on who to put in his cabinet. Bad decision cost him from serving a second consecutive term. He spend 4 years in a character developing season with trials and court cases. He weathered the season of attacks. Now after seeing how the world works he now is not taking the world’s advice on who to put in his cabinet. He is leading from a new position this time. He is ready to lead the US through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Are you ready to follow? Are you mature enough to not complain? This year has the potential to be your best if you are mature in the ways of the Lord.