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Pharaoh’s daughter drew Moses out of the river and adopted him as her own. However, while he was very young, she had him stay with his own family. Daily, at his mother’s knee, he must have heard the story of God’s Divine intervention in saving him from death. At a very early age he must have been fully persuaded that God had a special plan for his life. Later, growing up in Pharaoh’s palace and educated as a prince, he must have often wondered about his destiny.
When Moses was grown and saw the sufferings of the Hebrews, he was sure that he should deliver his people. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and immediately put into action what he believed to be God’s plan. But like many of us, his understanding of God’s plan for his life was something less than perfect. For one thing, his timing was a little off. (Did I say a little off! How about 40 years off!) For another thing, he tried in his own power to accomplish that which only God could do. Originally, he raised his own arm to fight the Egyptians. Eventually, God had him raise just his rod – God’s mighty arm was raised to set His people free.
Although he was God’s chosen vessel, he needed to be prepared. Forty years of “preparation” were spent in humbling this mighty man of God. Numbers 12:3 tells us that Moses was the humblest man on earth. When Moses was convinced that he could be of no use whatsoever to God, then God was able to use him most effectively. He indeed became the savior of his people, a picture of the coming Messiah – the Savior of the world.
God has a destiny for each one of us, too. It matters not at all whether we were “planned” or a so-called “surprise.” God had determined that we would belong to Him – before He made the world (see Ephesians 1:4-5). Each of us was planned by God, and each of us has a destiny to fulfill.
How can you know your destiny? For starters, you are destined to be conformed to the image of Jesus (see Romans 8:29). In other words, to become like Him. You say that would take a miracle? Our loving Heavenly Father is a God of Miracles! The problem is that – He needs our cooperation. The Lord does the changing in us, but we must let Him, by being obedient to Scripture and to what the Holy Spirit lovingly speaks to us in our hearts.
For example, Jesus commanded us in John 15:12 to love each other as He has loved us. This is how the lost will be drawn to Christ, by our love.
Sometimes, I’ll have an attitude that isn’t honoring the Lord, or I’ll say something displeasing to Him. At these times, the Holy Spirit will correct me in my spirit. Then, it’s up to me to be obedient to His loving rebuke. I must choose to repent and turn away from that attitude. I must choose to change my words, to make them agreeable to the Lord and to His Word.
As I learn to obey the Word of God, as I choose to walk in obedience to His correction, little by little I am fulfilling my destiny. You can do the same. (Reprint from July 1994)
Good morning, I have never met Merlin in person or his dear Mary but I have always appreciated him and I think I can say that I love him even if I know that, for the moment, we live temporarily apart.
I hope to meet him in Heaven.
I would like to express my gratitude here. I converted in 2003, I read his books, I gave some to others. I wrote to him, in a difficult moment in my life, and he responded with kindness and encouraged me. Since then some of his books have always, always been on my bedside table. I learned a lot, a lot from his frank, enthusiastic, genuine faith even in the most difficult circumstances. No other human being has edified me so much! Holy Father, thank you very much for Merlin and many blessings for his family and for his work, Paola Torriani
P.S. I live in Switzerland