When The Right Thing Is At The Wrong Time

In Exodus 2, we begin to see the life of Moses unfold. Moses was born to Levite parents and was set apart to be a mediator between Israel and God (Exodus 2:1-10). While he lived 40 years in the Pharaoh’s palace, he never forgot where he came from. He never forgot the Hebrew people (Exodus 2:11). Moses was ready to intervene for God’s people. In Exodus 2:12-15 Moses tried to deliver a Hebrew from the rule of the Egyptians. Moses ended up killing the Egyptian and having to run to Midian.

Moses’ heart was in the right place. He was called to deliver the Hebrews, and that’s exactly what he was trying to do. So what was the problem? Moses tried to act under his own power. If Moses had delivered the Israelites at this moment, God would not have gotten the glory, and Moses would have been the hero.

This serves as truthful reminder: The right thing at the wrong time, done in the wrong way is the wrong thing.

Of course, God wants us to do the right thing. But not only should we strive to do the right thing, but we must also strive to do it at the right time. Trusting in God’s timing, not our own. Additionally, we must strive to do the right thing in the right way. Moses was attempting to deliver the Israelites (doing the right thing), but his timing and method were under his own hands, not God’s.

When God calls us to do something, we must continue to listen to Him and be guided by Him so that we ensure we continue to follow the path laid before us. Too often, we see where we need to end up and try and get there on our own.

Don’t stop listening to God; when things try to take you off the path, press on. God is at work.

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