Have you ever given thought to how long many persons were in preparation for God’s work? I am not talking about going to a four-year ministry school, but life preparation. Let us consider a few.
Joseph, a younger brother has a dream and earns the wrath of his brothers who decide to do him in. They throw him in a pit and then decide to sell him. Off to Egypt he goes where he slowly gains favor of Pharaoh. Later Pharaoh’s wife lies about him and David is thrown in jail. Some years later he is released and comes back in favor of Pharaoh. Through wisdom, he literally saves Egypt from famine by storing food ahead of time. Essentially, he is now administrative head of all of Egypt. His dad and his family are suffering from the famine and he sends David’s brothers to Egypt! Imagine that. They encounter David; he forgives them recognizing God’s hand and brings his family to Egypt to save them. This is how the Israelites came to live in Egypt.
Moses nearly did not make it. Floating down the river in a basket, he could have easily died. He was rescued and ended up in Egypt. He grew up a privileged person in a royal household, ended up killing a guard, ran away, and was years in the desert where he encountered God. Moses was a man of God born to fulfill a major work in redeeming the Israelites and bringing them to Canaan land.
David was the a little kid, and being the youngest got the job (around the age of 12) to shepherd his father’s flock in fields some distance from home. He was born to be a King. God send a prophet to David’s family to anoint a king. He bypasses all his brothers until he finds David and he is anointed to be king. But, David doesn’t get the office for years and years. He goes through many stages of life filled with temptations, travail, and extreme circumstances. He ends up being declared a man after God’s heart.
There are many more to tell about, like Esther, the King’s wife who was put in a position to save the Jewish people. The word of God has an endless history of those who were born for His purposes and glory and spent many years in preparation before realizing the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Then there is you and I today. Every one of us has a purpose. Our lives are to be to His glory and purposes, but God also uses us for specific purposes. We may not save a nation, be a King, or some other mighty act, but, we certainly should be prepared to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ at anytime. We have been given the Holy Spirit who is our Counselor, preparing us. The word calls us ambassadors and we are called to be ready to give testimony of Him. And, who knows, God could be preparing anyone of us for any purpose of his anytime in the future.