Yves Gashugi 
There are many things I would criticize about him as a person, but I am still amazed by the strength of his calling; he accepted to leave the palace (the royal court) and become a shepherd of his father-in-law’s sheep (Moses)!
Moses! For those who love reading the scriptures, as soon as you hear the name Moses, I’m certain that the hippocampus part of your brain immediately releases a hormone-like pregnenolone. This brain activity likely triggers thoughts of Egypt, the staff turning into a snake, the Red Sea, and other significant events that Moses experienced.
It’s rare to find people pursuing or currently studying for advanced degrees who include in their future plans a commitment to serve God fully (as full-time ministers). Instead, most plan to serve God indirectly by contributing their wealth and other resources after completing their studies. Is this something you think about? Do you ever consider that things might change? If they did, how would you respond? Let’s pause the scientific talk about hormones and the education we’ve had and return to the story of Moses and what God wants to teach us.
Moses’ Education
Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became powerful in speech and action. “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites” (Acts 7:22-23).
Let me briefly speak about Moses’ education, using information from BibleTools. We don’t have specific details about Moses’ education, but based on historical records and archaeological evidence, we know that Egypt at that time was an advanced civilization, much like today’s America or Europe.
According to the Bible, Moses spent 40 years in the royal palace. As a royal, he had access to all kinds of privileges, including the opportunity to pursue any form of education he desired, as he was highly respected within the palace.
The scriptures reveal that Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians and often visited his fellow Israelites. Some areas of knowledge the Egyptians were advanced in included astronomy, chemistry, arts, mathematics, music, and military strategy. Ancient historians also mention that Moses was a great military leader, likely holding an officer’s rank. Since he often visited his people, it’s logical to assume that he also studied their history and culture (literature). It’s likely he had a broad knowledge of all these subjects.
There Are Many Things to Criticize About Him as a Person
I think that, although some may not openly admit it, we sometimes criticize certain servants of God who left lucrative careers to serve the Lord despite their education. Have you ever thought about someone in this way? Moses is one of them. These people are often labeled as:
- Misguided: Moses is seen as misguided because he gave up royalty to serve God.
- Mentally unstable: This was the case with Christian in The Pilgrim’s Progress (read the first chapter), where he was called insane for having the desire to leave his village for salvation.
- Bewitched: Moses left the royal palace to become a shepherd for his father-in-law’s sheep.
- Other derogatory names. We often criticize those who leave a life of worldly prestige to serve God, either openly or privately.
Amazed by the Power of the Calling
Recently, I took some time to reflect on the definition of a calling and obedience to God. After much thought, I concluded that a calling is essentially this: giving up the prestige of the royal palace to become a shepherd of your father-in-law’s sheep. At that time, Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1). In short, a calling is leaving the palace to go into the wilderness to tend sheep.
Lessons
Would you be willing to leave your prestigious life to become a shepherd of your father-in-law’s or future father-in-law’s sheep? God calls people in different ways, depending on the level at which He intends for them to serve. I once heard a testimony from a brother who said God sent him to minister to students, and in order to reach them, God provided him with a scholarship to study.
It’s not right to judge based on appearances; instead, we should pray and ask God for revelation about the larger plan behind the events in our lives. The experiences we go through as believers carry significant meaning for the future work God has planned for us. Therefore, those who leave worldly prestige to serve God should not be judged.
Moses’ obedience to God led to the Israelites being freed from slavery. In contrast, rebelling against God might give you the worldly prestige you desire, but obedience to God will save not only you but also many others, and the reward for obedience far exceeds the benefits of maintaining worldly prestige.
Conclusion
A pastor once told me that every misguided person still believes they’re on the right path. I believe that God calls people of prestige, but before you leave your current position, first make sure that it is truly God calling you by following this advice: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
God willing, we will discuss three different people in relation to testing prophecy!
