If it was me planning Israel’s rescue, I would have cast Moses as the “prince-turned-revolutionary” – leading the Hebrews in a revolt against the throne. We already know from historians that Moses was a great battlefield general. Why not have him take on Egypt? Can’t you see the movie trailer already, “General leads rag-tag group of revolutionaries against the king.”

Ahh, but God doesn’t usually work the way we think he should. So when we’ve decided to “do something” and He allows walls to form and doors to close—this is where we must trust Him, wait for Him to act, and then seize the moment.

His Plan... or Ours?

Imagine Pharaoh’s shock when he saw the 80-year old Moses stroll into the court and command him to let the Hebrews go. Fresh from the sheep fields, old Moses probably wasn’t exactly a commanding presence. Not the confident prince he was 40 years earlier. But this is God at work—in the most unexpected ways with the most unexpected methods.

See, way back in the hallowed halls of Egypt, Moses had the passion. But he wasn’t ready for God to use him. It took 40 years of sheepherding to figure out that God’s will can’t possibly done without God’s power. Leading Israel out of Egypt was a superhuman task.

And so is the task God is pulling on your heart to do. That desire to do something in your community, your church, your world—this God-given. But on your own, you’ll fail, burn out, and those people in need will suffer. You must trust God’s will and God’s timing. As hard as that is to do.

If Moses had led the Hebrews in a successful revolt against Egypt, the credit would have gone to Moses. The headlines would have read, “Protégé’ beats Master as Israel overtakes Egypt” or “Favorite Son Leads New Era in Egypt” or “War Hero Leads Persecuted People to Victory over Nemesis.”

You see the problem with that? There’s no mention of God. So instead, God’s way is to have Moses age 40 more years, lose his military edge in the flocks of his father-in-law, get married, get fat, have a few kids, and then when he can hardly walk anymore, lead Israel from Egypt.

Only it wouldn’t be Moses leading. It would be God. Witness the plagues, the parting of the sea, the pillar of fire and cloud—its all about God and not about Moses.

And in your school, your home, your church, your community, it’s all about God and not about you. The burden’s he’s placed deep in your soul? He will fulfill it—in His time. But get ready, because the adventure you’re about to undertake is exciting and unexpected. A journey to places you never thought you’d go.

Daniel Darling is the author of Teen People of the Bible. Visit him at danieldarling.com.