Devotional: Processing Information Then and Now

Old Testament Characters and Their Strengths: Moses

If you’re facing a challenge or undertaking a new project, you want a guy like Moses to grasp your vision.

Image: Christian Prayers Daily

Moses was a classic “Check Out the Facts First” kind of guy, and with good reason. His assignment was difficult and long-term. Moses needed to know this was genuinely his mission before proceeding. Once convinced, he didn’t look back.

What Moses Did

Moses, a Hebrew, had been raised in the Egyptian Pharaoh’s court. But when he murdered an Egyptian overseer beating a Hebrew, Moses fled to Midian. He married and worked as a shepherd. It was during this time in exile that God called Moses to ministry.

God spoke to Moses and outlined His plan. Moses was to confront Pharaoh and obtain the release of the Hebrew nation from slavery. Then Moses was to lead God’s people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. It was a lot of information to process.

Two Approaches to Processing Information: Realistic and Optimistic

When it comes to processing information, a person’s natural approach lines up on one side or another: Realistic or Optimistic. Both are strengths.

Optimistics are enthusiastic and trusting when processing information.

Moses represents the Realistic side of the information-processing spectrum. Realistics validate information before moving forward. Their skeptical nature looks for facts and logic to make sense of things.

Processing Information: How God Used Moses

Moses experienced a dramatic call to ministry when God spoke to him out of a burning bush. As a Realistic, Moses needed to confirm what he heard.

At first, Moses questioned whether God had the right guy: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11, ESV).

When God offered assurance, Moses still wanted more information. How would he convince the people that God had indeed called him? Moses’ rod, God explained, would transform into a snake offering tangible evidence of the Almighty’s intervention. For the unconvinced, God told Moses to use Plan B (a leprous hand miraculously healed) and Plan C (water turned to blood).

As Moses listed misgivings about his abilities, God provided a concrete plan to follow: the Lord Himself would give Moses the words to speak. He would also provide a partner – Moses’ brother Aaron.

Once Moses had validated the information from his call thoroughly he was still nervous but he was willing to take the next step in obedience. His detailed, analytical processing allowed Moses to look forward – not back – as he led the Hebrew people out of Pharaoh’s clutches and through the wilderness for forty long years. Moses’ need to validate information gave him staying power through trials.

Which is why you want someone like him on your team – both then and now.