When You Mess Up: Learn from Moses’ Mistakes & His Rededication to God

5:58

Do you feel like your poor choices and sins have disqualified you from God's calling on your life? Have you felt like you are a lost cause? In your struggles and spiritual "dry seasons", do you wonder if anything good can come from it? Could you use some encouragement and hope to get through a tough or discouraging time?

If you’ve ever wrestled with these questions, the account of Moses has so much to offer you! It’s a story of redemption, preparation, and God’s ability to use the desert seasons in our lives for His good purposes.

Let’s take a journey back in time to explore how Moses—a man who went from being a prince of Egypt to a shepherd in the wilderness—was transformed through his time in the desert and prepared to fulfill one of the greatest missions in history. His experience demonstrates that when we feel like we’ve strayed too far and become disqualified to be used by God, that the Lord can bring beauty from the ashes through restoring you to Him and His purposes.

Moses’ Life Takes a Drastic Turn

The story of Moses begins with danger and divine protection. Pharaoh had ordered the death of all Hebrew baby boys, yet Moses’ family, in faith, placed him in a basket in the Nile River. He was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as a prince in Egypt (Exodus 2:1-10). From the start, Moses’ life was marked by God’s providence.

Fast forward to Moses as an adult. At 40 years old, Moses’ life took a drastic turn. Though raised in the luxury of Pharaoh’s palace, his heart was with his native people. One day, seeing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he killed the offender. Moses acted impulsively, fooling himself into believing that his response was righteous anger. Severe consequences immediately resulted from his rash choice: Pharaoh sought to kill him; and, in response, Moses fled to the wilderness of Midian (Exodus 2:11-15; Acts 7:23-29).

Imagine how Moses must have felt. Once a prince, now a fugitive. What future could there be for him?

The Wilderness as God’s Training Ground

It’s easy to feel disqualified after making tragic choices. Have you ever felt like something you’ve done has put you outside of God’s plan? Moses likely thought the same. But, in God's grace, He used Moses' time in Midian as preparation to use him in a mighty way.

God uses “desert seasons” to shape us for His purposes. Here’s what we can learn from Moses’ time in the wilderness:

1. The Wilderness Removes Distractions

The desert is a place of stillness. For Moses, gone were the distractions of Egyptian royalty. Instead, he was left with quiet, allowing him to hear God’s voice. Psalm 46:10 reminds us: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This stillness was key. When Moses saw a bush burning without being consumed, he didn’t dismiss it as a mirage. Instead, he drew near, and there, God called him (Exodus 3:1-4). Sometimes, we must slow down to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Are there distractions in your life that God might be inviting you to set aside?

2. The Wilderness Cultivates Obedience

Moses went from being a prince to a shepherd—a humbling shift. Shepherding taught Moses patience, faithfulness, and reliance on God. Luke 16:10 says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” Before Moses could lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt, he needed to learn obedience in the small things.

Obedience often feels restrictive, yet it’s the pathway to blessing and fruitfulness. Isaiah 1:19 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Moses had to learn to trust God’s timing and methods, rather than taking matters into his own hands - like when he killed the Egyptian.

Are there small acts of obedience God is calling you to today?

3. The Wilderness Refines Character

Leading millions of Hebrews out of Egypt and confronting Pharaoh required more than courage—it required humility, perseverance, and unwavering trust in God. These qualities were forged in Moses during his 40 years in Midian.

James 1:2-4 encourages us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” Moses’ wilderness experience prepared him to trust God completely, even in impossible circumstances, such as parting the Red Sea.

How might God be refining your character through your current trials?

God’s Plan is Not Over

Perhaps you feel like Moses: distant from God, weighed down by poor choices, or stuck in a dry season. Maybe you once had big dreams, but life took a detour; and now you wonder if God can still use you.

The answer is a resounding yes! God’s plan for Moses didn’t end in the wilderness, and His plan for you isn’t over either. The same God who called Moses from a burning bush calls you to step into His purpose for your life.

The desert is not the end—it’s the training ground. God uses these seasons to deepen our relationship with Him, refine our character, and prepare us for what’s ahead. Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Key Takeaways from Moses’ Desert Experience

Distractions are Removed: Create space for stillness and prayer, removing the noise of life to hear God’s voice.
Obedience is Cultivated: Trust God’s timing and follow His lead, even when the path is unclear.
Character is Refined: Allow God to shape you through trials, preparing you for His purpose.

Just as Moses’ desert prepared him to lead a nation, your wilderness season is preparing you for something greater. Trust God’s timing and remain attentive to His voice. The best is yet to come.