God reveals His heart in transition by showing His love for us. God especially cares for those who are hurting. As Moses shepherded a flock in the wilderness of Sinai, God appeared to him in a burning bush. Moses, who was royalty in Egypt, had left there 40 years earlier after he killed an Egyptian while defending an enslaved Israelite. Over 40 years, memories of the Israelites’ hardships may have faded, but God was well aware of their plight.
Exodus 3:7 Then the Lord told Moses, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.
9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people, Israel out of Egypt.” [1]
God’s Heart Changes our Heart
As Moses listened to God’s words about the plight of His people, the Lord began to awaken Moses’s heart for the Israelites. It is God who gives us the gifts of compassion for others, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit. Colossians 3:12, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.[2]
God called Moses into a new season. A call from God can evoke a mix of emotions. For Moses, it may have sparked excitement and joy at the prospect of rescuing the Israelites. On the other hand, it may have stirred a desire to linger in familiar comfort amid the unexpected. Although our future seasons may differ, transitions often bring both treasured memories and challenging moments. Thankfully, we can adopt specific steps to keep our focus on God throughout the process.
There are Hurting People All Around Us
God shared His heart with Moses about the Israelites because the Lord was going to transform him into a leader to deliver God’s people. As we pray and seek the Lord, He will also share His heart for hurting people with us. God may not call us to be a deliverer on the scale of Moses, but the world is not short on hurting people. God wants us to have compassion for these just as He does. As believers, God calls us to be the salt and light of the world. A kind word, a helping hand, a smile, and interceding for others can change your entire focus in life.
To learn how God reveals His heart in transition, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-in-the-midst-of-change
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.