GOD’S CLASSROOM

Psalms 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

When God wants to teach His ways to someone, it is an act of His election: God chooses the vessel, and He writes the lesson plan. With the children of Israel, Moses had the privilege of being taught the fullness of God’s ways. He had the leading role in the main act of their history. Like an expectant mother, Moses suffered the apprehension of pregnancy, the pains of labor, the joy of deliverance, and the strenuous work of raising the child to full maturity. Like a mother he pleaded with God’s mercy for them when they disobeyed; he exhorted them daily to follow the commandments of the Lord (Numbers 14).

Moses was the epitome of the true missionary. He saw the plight of the people from afar and he allowed God to break his heart. He felt the need of the situation (Exodus 2:11-12). He left his lofty station as prince of Egypt to become a member of the nation of slaves (Hebrews 11:24-27), and yielded himself to forty years of training in the wilderness as a shepherd (Exodus 3:1). He had to learn to become the instrument of God, solely dependant on Him, not on his own strength. He dedicated his entire life to his mission, until the day he died; when he passed it on to the person he had trained to take over (Deuteronomy 34:7-9).

We want to be shown God’s ways, but He instructs us in unexpected ways. God does not usually teach us in a classroom set up with books, expounding theoretical lectures and discourses. On-the-job lessons are His way, and our life is the tool of the trade. If we men, and yes I am talking to men, would know the teachings of God, if we would know the great wisdom of His ways with us, we would do well to stop our feverish activities once in a while, take a sabbatical rest and reflect on our lives, and that of the flock God has entrusted us with, the life of our spouses and of our children.

Like Moses, let us go to the place of isolation on Mt. Horeb (Exodus 3); take off our shoes and listen to Him; there yield our life for an instrument of His peace. Like Mary, let us forego the serving; let us sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from the Word of divine grace (Luke 10:41-42). Quiet, in the presence of the Lord, we will learn the wisdom of ages; we will receive the ‘law’ that will take us, as well as our flocks to the promised Land.

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.