Philippians 1:4-6 “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
As a newlywed, were you surprised to discover you and your husband failed to share all of the same expectations? Disappointed because he left the toilet seat up? Startled to learn he was as much in need of the cross as you? I was.
When we exchanged our vows, I hadn’t realized the number of expectations both David and I had of each other. I knew my husband would lovingly tolerate mood swings, easily give up the majority of closet space, and avoid comparing my cooking to his mother’s. In turn, he assumed I would recognize the value of his waxing the pickup every weekend, the importance of creases in Navy uniforms, and the necessity of always arriving 20 minutes early for church on Sunday mornings.
Our expectations weren’t wrong, but they were inaccurate. Preparing for deployment is similar. Planning ahead, while important and certain to ease some transitions, will not eliminate challenges each of you will face.
Moses had expectations, as well. After fleeing Egypt, Moses built a life for himself in the desert of Midian. He gave up privilege for wealth, started a family, and grew old. Moses knew the routine. He enjoyed life’s predictability. He knew what to expect. Until…God called him to the unexpected.
For over 400 years, the Israelites had suffered in Egypt. In fact, they had been brutally enslaved. Children were torn from their mother’s arms, old men felt the sting of the whip across their backs when age limited productivity, and starved young men could only beg for mercy at the cruel hands of their masters. In despair, God’s people cried out for relief…hope…deliverance.
You may know the story. God sent Moses–a man who had once been accustomed to the riches and pleasures of royalty and now lived the humble life of a shepherd—to rescue Israel. But, what could God do with a bent old man—a recluse? Even Moses doubted God’s wisdom. “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3)
Despite his fears and insecurity, Moses remained faithful to God’s commands. He asked to have an audience with the king of Egypt. While it may seem surprising, Pharaoh granted the request—likely because he wanted a good laugh. Think about it. Pharaoh held the power of the world’s richest nation in his hands. Commerce and trade were booming. The military was unshakeable. Wealth and education were hallmarks of the kingdom. The ruler of Egypt had nothing to fear from a desert hermit. Wouldn’t it be amusing to invite this unkempt, senile, stuttering fool to the foot of the throne?
So…Moses entered the glorious halls of the palace. Unimpressed with the beauty around him, unafraid of the guards escorting him, and uninterested by those snickering in amusement at his blue-collar appearance, he approached Pharaoh and announced without hesitation, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.”
Laughter filled the room as Pharaoh and his court heard Moses’ words. Did this white-haired relic realize he was addressing the most influential man in the world? Surely, this hermit realized his life was at stake? Was he insane?
Locking his gaze on Egypt’s king, Moses waited for the noise to subside. He doesn’t realize who You are, Lord. He is his own God. What a fool!
Finally, the room grew quiet. Pharaoh’s face hardened. He had expected Moses to be a cowering old man tottering on the brink of sanity. Instead, he recognized strength and determination in an enemy more than twice his age. Unwilling to admit it to himself, the great king of Egypt knew the Hebrew God had set a plan in motion the moment Moses entered the gates of the royal courtyards.
Remember, friend, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow can also use the unexpected in your life. Yes, it will be difficult to give up comfortable routines. You may yearn for the security of predictability. At times, you might even feel as if you’ve been exiled to a foreign land—abandoned to a place apart from your husband or the life you had known. Your expectations—for your life, your family, and your faith—will be altered and changed in amazing ways when you give them to God.
Suggested Scripture Reading
Psalm 93
