And Saul approved of their killing him.

Acts 8:1 (NIV)

The Bible is full of people with great faith who were used by God to accomplish amazing things. Aside from Jesus, it seems the greatest of these people committed reprehensible acts in their lives that we might think of as unforgivable, or, at the very least, prohibitive to something like ministry.

The first person I’d like to take a look at today is Moses. Before I was saved and had never read the Bible, I had heard about Moses. We know the law was given to Moses and that he was the person God chose to lead His people from bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses is credited for writing the first seven books of the Bible and, to say He’s highly regarded by the Jews today, would be an understatement. Indeed, we, as Christians, also look upon Moses in a very favorable light. Moses also plays a very prominent role in Islam.

One thing we might forget about, or gloss over, is Moses’ killing of an Egyptian.

One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

Exodus 2:11-12 (NIV)

I was a bit surprised today, as I was researching Moses’ killing of the Egyptian, that some people wondered if what Moses did was a sin or not. I read some interesting viewpoints on this subject with some well-spoken arguments declaring that Moses did not sin. However, I believe Moses not only murdered the Egyptian but did so in the first degree. Scripture tells us Moses looked to make sure no one was looking before he killed the Egyptian. I see an act of murder done in passion as one done without much thought. We don’t read that Moses saw someone beating a Hebrew and accidentally killed him. I don’t think it’s wise to try and justify what Moses did. He wasn’t in a war, nor did God tell him to do it. We read in Acts 7:25 that, “Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not” (NIV).

Therefore, I see Moses’ killing of the Egyptian, at the least, as a man trying to God’s will without the anointing of God to do it. At the worst, I see the verse in Acts much the same as someone saying, “Don’t you know I’m on your side?” Regardless of what you and I might believe, we know that God chose Moses and that God delivered the nation of Israel from the bondage in Egypt through Moses. We also know that Moses, when God called him, didn’t think he was qualified and wanted the Lord to pick someone else.

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Exodus 4:13 (NIV)

Although Moses had a lot of excuses as to why he wasn’t the right person for the job God still picked him for the job.

The next person I want to take a quick look at is the Apostle Paul. Although Paul didn’t murder anyone with his own hands, like Moses, he did persecute the church and stood by in approval, as Stephen was murdered. I’d say that Paul would have been found guilty of murder if he went to trial today. We could say that Moses was slightly misguided in his belief that he was serving God when he killed the Egyptian. If we consider Paul, and his actions, we know that he was misguided in what he believed to be his service to God, before his experience on the road to Damascus.

Yet God chose Paul to be the minister to the Gentiles. Indeed, most of the doctrine we follow today was written by Paul.

From Moses, through King David, to the Apostle Paul, the Lord has used “unqualified” people to serve Him in mighty ways. What I wonder is how many of us might think we’re not qualified to serve God in mighty ways, because of the sin in our lives? It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in our past, or even what we’ve done today. By faith, and the grace of God, we can do whatever it is He has for us to do. As long as we’re willing.

Do you know God? God knows you and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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