Daily Devotional

“The Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people” (Exodus 11:3). 

During World War II, Corporal Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector, refused to carry any weapon into combat, not even a knife. In April 1945, as a medic, Doss joined his battalion in attempting to take a summit where seventy-five men were wounded. He then repeatedly exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire as he rescued one man after another. 

Corporal Doss saved dozens of others while under enemy fire. He was eventually wounded by an exploding grenade that severely damaged his legs. While being carried on a stretcher to receive medical treatment, he insisted that he be taken off so another man, whom he considered to be more seriously wounded, to be carried instead, actions that led him to receive the Medal of Honour. Doss took orders from a Higher Commander rather than the commands of men. 

Moses also ignored the superior orders of the highest ruler in Egypt. In order to save God’s people, he repeatedly stepped into the line of fire. Pharaoh could have cut him down many times, but the Lord protected His servant. Time after time, the leader of the Israelites boldly demanded that the Egyptian ruler let God’s people go. 

Though Egypt’s supreme ruler would not concede to Moses’ demands, the monarch’s servants and the people of Egypt grew to respect the Hebrew’s saviour. They looked at him with admiration and believed he alone held the power to stop the catastrophes that were destroying their land. Moses was considered “great in the land of Egypt.” But the meek leader of Israel did not think of himself as mighty. 

True honour and respect by others do not come from bullying your way to the top. Moses was great because he did “just as the Lord commanded” (Exodus 7:20). It is true in any age: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). 

O God, my highest service is to obey You first and foremost, even if it means putting my life at risk.