Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation” – Exodus 32:10

It’s not normal; not with us, the depraved! When opportunity comes our way, we take it. It doesn’t matter who is involved. After all, we didn’t cause it. Neither did we lobby for it. The Israelites rebelled. God was grieved. He decided to wipe them out. So, why don’t you remove yourself, Moses, and let God be God. “Then I will make you into a great nation”, God said (Exodus 32:10).

It takes me back thirteen years ago. I had just entered the pastorate at the International Baptist Church of Dakar (IBC). Two months later, the war began. Unknown to me, the elder who led the leadership team during the seven-month pastor search had set into motion his plan to get me back to Ghana. He engaged the support of the President of the Baptist Association.

“Help us get him out and I will make sure you are appointed the pastor of the church”, this young pastor confessed in my office, two years later.

And he said, “Yes”!

And so the battle began. Violence ensued. The pulpit was lifted from me while I preached. I was physically assaulted once, and threatened with kerosene bomb on one occasion after the 31^st December Watch Night Service. Five rebels from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria became his soldiers. Week after week, they came up and interrupted our Sunday services. Children were traumatized and almost all the missionaries left the church. Finally, the church voted the men out of membership. The state took the matter up in court. By Senegalese law, the men had defiled a holy place, the Sanctuary of IBC. They were declared guilty and given six months suspended jail sentences. Furthermore, they were banned from coming anywhere near the church for five years. And the church has had peace since. That’s the natural tendency of man. He is selfish and opportunistic to the core, but for Christ.

But that was not Moses. He did not care about himself, but the people. More importantly, he cared about the name of God and His reputation among the heathen nations. Listen to Moses talking to God.

“Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?

That’s what forty years of God’s discipline among the sheepfold in Midian will do to a man. It humbled Moses and made him completely dependent and trusting of God. It prepared him to lead Israel out of Egypt towards the Promised Land.

That’s where God wants us. He wants us to empty ourselves of everything and allow the Holy Spirit to instruct and direct our lives (Phil. 2:2-9). He wants us to show concern for others. He wants us honor His name above our personal interests. Then we are ready to be noble instruments in His hands, useful in God’s service.