Exodus 4:27-31 It is God’s design to enable success through divine partnerships

Exodus 4:27-31 It is God’s design to enable success through divine partnerships

Now the Lord said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel; and Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.

Background

This section details how God called Aaron to be part of Moses’s mission team. Before God could deploy Aaron as a partner to Moses, God had to correct Moses’s unbelief regarding his family’s safety. Aaron was proven indispensable in bridging the people to God’s salvation plan even though his role seemed less prominent as compared to Moses’s. Today’s devotion teaches us: It is God’s design to enable success through divine partnerships.

Observation

Now the Lord said to Aaron, “Go to meet Moses in the wilderness.”

God reached out to Aaron as He did Moses. And Aaron responded in obedience. God’s instruction for Aaron to meet Moses in the wilderness is significant at least for Moses. For it demonstrates that God does nothing through a single person. Thus, He actively gathered a team to help Moses fulfil the mission. Even as God commanded Moses to go to Egypt, in the same breath, He commanded Aaron to meet Moses at the mountain of God.

Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Aaron is instrumental in bringing the people together, in directing them to hear Moses’s words and witness the miraculous signs. Although Moses had the promises, Aaron possessed the chemistry with the people and was able to empathise with their plight. Oddly enough, Aaron was the one who performed the signs and convinced the people: “The people believed… and worshiped.”

Truth

It is God’s design to enable success through divine partnerships.

It is not possible, nor is it God’s design for any man or woman to succeed (either in “secular” work or ministry) by going alone. In the process of creating the world, the Creator “God” is in plural form: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1:1. The word “God” (Elohim in Hebrew) is plural. Technically, it can be translated: In the beginning Gods created the heavens and the earth. In other words, God works through a plurality of divine entities. And again in verse 26: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” Here, God in direct speech represented Himself as “Us”. In the process of bringing salvation to humanity, we can see the Divine Trinity at work: The Father sends the Son. The Son makes the sacrifice. The Holy Spirit brings eternal life to all. God has shown us the importance of working as a team to bring about success. Therefore, in all that we do, we must always seek to first build up good partnerships.

What is the role of the church?

The church comprises the essential elements that enable God to execute His salvation plans on earth. The “church” comprises the ones whom God has called but have yet to make their way into the church. Different members of the church body are endowed with different gifts to serve various functions. Unless members of the church work in unison, God’s salvation plans cannot be successfully carried out. Therefore, organisations, businesses and churches must do all to discover and develop its members. To acknowledge their unique roles, so that the body may succeed and bear fruit to the glory of God.

Moses and Aaron form a divine partnership: Moses possesses the anointing, and Aaron possesses the mass appeal to bring the message of hope to the people. Moses would not succeed without Aaron. And neither can Aaron without Moses. The sovereign God, in His wisdom, has built a team comprising Aaron and many more to help make Moses’s mission a success.

When we commit to God’s call, He brings the right partnerships for success.

When we commit ourselves by having the right attitude towards our ministry and work, God brings the right partnerships for success. This is evident when God tried to correct Moses’s unbelief by threatening his life while he was en route to Egypt. Moses to God’s displeasure created for himself an escape route for his family. By refusing to circumcise his son, he acquired an “insurance policy” to dissociate his family from the Hebrew race. For he wanted to protect his family in case of genocide. Only after Moses repented of his selfishness was Aaron summoned to meet him at the mountain of God.

When believers commit themselves fully to build God’s kingdom without turning back, God brings the right partners to ensure our success. Many could not succeed because they are selfish and mistreat the people. Some cannot work with others because they are prideful and wilful. To such, God will not offer His choicest men and women as partners to them. Therefore, we must learn to appreciate one another, to acknowledge one another’s strengths and calling. All members regardless of their roles hold the same significance in the eyes of God. And God requires the members that seem insignificant to be given due recognition. Paul said,

Those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked. – 1 Corinthians 12:23-24

Therefore, as we cultivate a culture that honours and build up one another. God strengthens and enlarges the team causing us to become more successful.

Application

Who are your divine partners that can enable you to grow and be successful? The types of divine partnerships are as follows: Your spouse, mentor, disciples, ministry partners, cell members and colleagues etc. Take steps to acknowledge their contributions and significance to the common mission. Divine partnerships to be successful must have similar visions, values and commitment. As you seek to become an excellent partner to others, ask God to bring divine partners into your life.

Dear Lord, cause me to grow in your vision of making the world more righteous and merciful. Cause me to live out the values of love, righteousness and loyalty. Give me the grace to sustain my commitment to build your kingdom. Help me create the right partnerships so that I may bear fruit towards your kingdom. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.