March 17

Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. — Exod 3:1 BSB

For forty years, Moses tended sheep in the wilderness. It might seem like those years were wasted. We can easily see the value of his first forty years—learning from his mother, growing up in Pharaoh’s palace. But what did those long years in the desert accomplish in preparing him to lead a nation? More than we might think. During those years, Moses’ character was being strengthened. He was learning self-discipline and gaining wisdom he could never have learned in Egypt’s royal courts.

Today, young people are often eager to start their life’s work as soon as possible. Some feel it’s a waste of time to complete a full course of study before entering a profession. They can’t wait to get into ministry, medicine, or law. But no wonder so many fail when they haven’t taken the time to prepare properly. When God trains someone for great work, He always takes His time. No one should rush into their calling without first preparing well.