Jan is a big fan of American Idol. She gets together with Dorothy every week to watch the progress of the contestants. Every week for the short-term future, hopeful singers will endure Simon’s "feedback" and the competitive environment. Only one will win (although you’ll recall Reuben and Clay...). I can imagine that by about week 7, some will be homesick, others tired, and some will have lost their will to continue because it is overwhelming. Each snarky comment, each night of sleep lost, each long day of intense scrutiny, is a setback which must be overcome, just for the chance to face the judges, who might cut you to shreds on national tv.

Last night we watched the New England patriots narrowly defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Superbowl. To make it to the top, each team had to deal with wins and losses, injuries, egos and personalities. Football is often called the game of inches (although we Canadians know that curling is the game of millimetres) because every play depends on moving the ball up the field, sometimes only by inches, for the chance to cross into the end zone. Setbacks happen on every play. Quarterbacks are sacked. Throws go incomplete or get intercepted. The winning team is the one which deals with the setbacks more successfully, more consistently.

In Exodus 6, Moses faces his first major setback . . .

When we last saw Moses, God had finally convinced him he was the man for the job. After that, Moses found his brother Aaron, told him the score, and together they set out for Egypt. When they arrived, they explained things to the elders and convinced the people by displaying the various signs God enabled Moses to do (Ex. 4:29-31).

Feeling great about their success so far, they went to Pharoah to ask permission to hold a religious festival outside the city. Pharoah, however, was not impressed. In fact, he saw only laziness in his Hebrew slaves and ordered more work. He would no longer provide straw for the slaves to use in the bricks (a strengthening material) -- they must find their own, but maintain their original production quotas. Under this unreasonable demand, the people complained until someone mustered the courage to approach Moses.

"May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharoah and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." (Ex.5:21 NIV)

As Moses pressed the instant replay button of his memory, this is what he heard. "Look at what you’ve done, Moses. Everything was going just fine until you came along. You and your bright ideas!"

Moses didn’t expect this kind of reaction. Everything started out so well. Aaron agreed. The elders thought it was a great idea. The people were impressed by the signs. But then this. How could God bring him this far to experience setback and failure? Clearly confused, Moses poured himself out to God. "Is this why you sent me?" (Ex.5:22)

Ever had those feelings? You started out, thinking that you were doing the right thing. Maybe you even prayed long and hard to seek God’s will. It went well for a while, but then it got hard, and you began to wonder. "What are you doing, Lord?"

---- You moved to take a new job, only to discover a few months later that the new company was downsizing and your job was redundant. "Why did you bring me here, Lord?"

---- You took over a ministry in the church but many of the old leaders stepped down because they were tired. "Why do I have to do this all alone, Lord?"

---- You decided to make some changes in your lifestyle to better glorify the Lord, but your friends turned their back on you. "How will I ever get through this, Lord?"

---- You made some changes at work, but your staff, who were initially excited about the new ways, rebelled. "What now, Lord?"

Ever said those words to God? Yeah, me too. Don’t worry, God has big shoulders. He can handle it. He handled Moses. "Now you will see what I will do to Pharoah." (Ex.6:1)

There is a crucial difference between the way we see things and the way God sees them. When we encounter difficulty, we think there is something wrong. In our way of thinking, the setbacks, barriers, and boundaries must be signs that we misread what God wanted for us. "It must not be God’s will, after all."

God doesn’t see it this way. "Now you will see what I will do..." What we think are setbacks are really opportunities for God to display his power.

Instead of asking "what’s wrong?" we need to ask a different question. We need to ask, "How is God about to display his power?"

Hope this helps. Be On Fire

Troy