by Laura Keeley

Focus: We are called and equipped, just as Moses, Joshua, and David were.

Materials: None

Background: Exodus 2-3; Exodus 17:8-16; 1 Samuel 17

The Bible is a book that is different from other books. You know lots of Bible stories, but it is important to remember that the Bible is also one big story—the story of how God works in the lives of his people. It is God’s story—but it is also your story. It is filled with stories of people whom God called and equipped to carry on God’s will in this world. 

Let me tell you about a couple of those people.  

Moses was raised by the daughter of the Pharaoh in Egypt. Moses grew up in a royal house. He was familiar with Egyptian life. But Moses cared for the Hebrews, his people, and he got in trouble for defending one of the Hebrews slaves. So Moses had to run for his life. Years later we find Moses in the desert, hiding from Pharaoh and tending his father-in-law’s sheep.

One day, Moses saw something strange in the desert—a bush was on fire! But it wasn’t an ordinary bush. God spoke to Moses from that burning bush. God called Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.

Moses told God that he couldn’t do it, but God assured him that he could. Moses did go on to lead the people out of Egypt. God not only called Moses to do this job, but God gave Moses the skills that he needed to do it.

Joshua was one of the men who helped Moses while the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. He was a leader in the Israelite army, and he led the fight against the Amalekites.

Moses stood on a hill overlooking the battle, and when Moses’ hands were raised, Israel was winning the battle. When Moses’ hands went down, Israel was losing. Two men, Moses’ brother Aaron and and another friend named Hur, brought a rock for Moses to sit on and held up Moses’ hands. And Israel won this battle! 

Do you think Joshua learned something that day when he saw how the battle was won?

Joshua was also present when some other important things happened. He was there when God’s law was given to Moses. He spied out the land of Canaan and brought back a good report to Moses. So when Moses died, God called Joshua to be the leader of Israel. God not only called Joshua to do this job, but God also equipped Joshua, giving him everything he needed to do that job.

David grew up as a shepherd. A shepherd had to be alert to care for his sheep. He had to make sure the sheep didn’t run away, and he had to protect the sheep if any lions or bears came to attack them. One of the things shepherd boys often did was to practice using their slingshots so that when wild animals attacked their sheep, they could defend them.

So when David saw and heard the giant Goliath shouting insults at the Israelites and at God, he stepped out to meet the giant in battle. And he was already equipped—not with armor, but with his slingshot and the skill to use it. David killed that giant with just a stone and a slingshot—tools that he knew how to use. God had not only called David to face Goliath; God had also given David the tools he needed to do the job.

The Bible is full of stories of people just like you and me: people who were scared, nervous, and sometimes made mistakes. But these stories tell us more. They tell us about God and the people who listened to God. And with God’s help they were able to do things they didn’t think were possible. God was working in their lives, and he is working in your life too. 

God called and equipped the people in the Bible who did God’s will. You are also called and equipped to be one of God’s people. This is your story too.

What are you being called and equipped to do? I don’t know. Maybe you don’t know yet either. But learning about what God is doing in your life is part of the fun.