By Mike Caton

Exodus 7:7, “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

This might be one of those verses that we read and keep right on going. We might think it is just a side note, something to make Moses and Aaron a little more human, maybe even filler. But there is an important lesson in this verse. We remember from the genealogy lists in Genesis that the folks lived hundreds of years before they died. To be sure, the effects of living in a sinful world took its toll. Moses wrote Psalm 90 and in there said, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures.” But the point is Moses and Aaron are old men.

Now they both enjoyed extremely good health, which no doubt was a blessing from God. And It might have something to do with the fact that God had given them such a huge job. Don’t you think it would have been easy for them to use their age as an excuse for not leading the Israelites, not speaking to Pharaoh, not getting involved? How often do we hear today, let the younger folks do it. I’m too old, I’ve done my part. It is someone else’s turn.

And this can go the other way too – I am too young, or inexperienced, or I don’t know enough about the Bible or the church to get involved. Ridiculous! God can and will use whoever he wants to get his jobs done. And we need to be willing to do them. It is not about our lack of abilities, our age (or our youth), whether we are a man or a woman, rich or poor, or anything else. It is about our willingness to do what God asks us to do.

Father, help me be willing to follow you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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