The Gear Shifter

I have always loved dirt bikes. I love watching supercross, riding, and playing all of the Mx vs ATV video games. When I got my first dirt bike I was 12 years old and it was a Honda CRF70 (pictured below.)

When I first learned how to ride, I would keep it in second gear because it was hard for me to tell when I needed to shift up, and honestly, I was scared to. I was content with going at a lower level of speed and power because it was comfortable. I was afraid of the unknown and what would happen when I shifted even though it actually would have given me more freedom and control over the bike.

In the book of Exodus, the Israelites had been in slavery for over 500 years. At the beginning of the book, the reader is introduced to the main character named Moses who was born a Hebrew. His mother placed him in a basket down the Nile River towards Egypt where he was eventually found by Pharoah’s daughter. Moses grew up as an Egyptian prince until he was 40 years old when he figured out his true Hebrew identity, killed a man, and ran away from home.

Fast forward 40 years later, Moses was a shepherd tending his father-in-law’s sheep in the desert when something miraculous happened. God showed up and spoke to him through an unexpected source, a burning bush. At that moment, God gave Moses a great task. He said, “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10)

Moses then puts up 5 excuses to avoid becoming Israel’s deliverer from slavery.

1. Moses said, “Who am I? I’m nobody.” God responds “I’ll go with you” (Exodus 3:11-12)
2. Moses said, “People will question me.” God responds “Tell them my name, I AM, has sent you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)
3. Moses said, “Nobody will listen or believe me.” God responds by giving him 2 miracles to show the people. (Exodus 4:1-5)
4. Moses said, “I am not eloquent and I am slow of speech and tongue.” God responds, “I will help you speak and give you the words to say.” (Exodus 4:10-11)
5. Moses said, “Please send someone else.” God responds, “I will send your brother Aaron with you.” (Exodus 4:13-14)

Up until this point, Moses had been living in second gear. After fleeing from his home, Moses was content with living out his days as a shepherd. But God had something much bigger in mind. Little did he know, all those years as a shepherd were preparing Moses for his destiny. Despite Moses’ lack of confidence, God was going to shift his life and use him on a whole new level.

I can relate to Moses because I have also struggled with my confidence throughout life. Much like my dirt bike experience, I get scared to do things outside of my comfort zone and put myself out there because of fear of the unknown. But just like Moses, God wants to shift me from being fearful to having confident faith and trust in Him.

When we surrender our lives fully to Jesus, he is able to shift us into another gear. He will use our experiences, personalities, failures, fears, and doubts for a bigger purpose to help other people find freedom. That doesn’t mean that it will be easy or problem-free, but it means we can live with boldness and confidence knowing that our identity is found in our relationship with Him forever

The Bigger Picture: God is able to shift our lives into another gear full of faith, confidence, boldness, fulfillment, and freedom.