Torah Life Lessons

1. Having Faith and Trust in the Lord.

2. Recognizing the Lords hand in our lives - God sees the big picture.

3. Trials make us stronger when we rely on the Lords help.

In the book of Exodus and all throughout the Torah, God shows his great works and miracles to the people of Egypt. The Pharaoh would not allow the Lords people to become free because the Lord continuously hardened the Pharaoh’s heart, and for an important reason as well, to show his great works and his mighty power. When we obey the Lord and do what His messengers have told us to do, we will be blessed. When the Lord cast multiple curses upon the land of Egypt, it was not only to show his mighty power, but it was also a test of His people, to see whether or not they would obey his command, simple or difficult as the command may be. In Exodus 4:21 it says, “And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go”. Until late, I had never realized that the Lord hardened Pharaohs heart. I always thought that the Pharaoh would not let his people go because of his pride and greed, so Moses had to continually cast famines and the great powers of God upon the land to frighten the Pharaoh enough to let the Lords people go. Moses was instructed what to do and knew beforehand what would happen (Exodus 4:12 “Now therefore go, and I will be with they mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say”). The Lord knows all and he had proved it to His people many times before they were allowed to be freed. Yet, some still complained and murmured. Each time we are given a stump in our path, do we complain about the stump being in the way, or do we know that God sees the bigger picture of our path and put the stump there for a purpose or reason, not just to hinder us? Almost every time something went wrong, the people of Egypt complained to Moses and would murmur, asking why he had brought them out in the wilderness to die. It is my belief that they traveled in the wilderness for such a long period of time, due to the fact that they had to learn how to put their trust and faith in the Lord, willingly do what he said, no questions asked.

In my life, I am much like the people of Egypt. I complain when a tiny stump is in my path and makes me trip. The Lord has shown many mighty wonders in my existence and yet I fail to recognize them as much as my stump. When I obey the Lord and know that he will only lead me down the path I must go, it makes following the path much easier when you know whom your guide is and that he knows where he is taking you.

This year, I was given the opportunity to teach English in China from August 2009 until July of 2010. Eleven and a half months ago, I had no desire to teach English in China, let alone, even go to China. But the Lord insisted that I follow this path and take the necessary actions to prepare for this upcoming adventure. I questioned why, complained and murmured until the Lord had softened my heart. Once I was willing to put my faith and trust in the Lord, believing that He knows what He is doing, I started to do my part and in return, He did His. I felt that there was no way I would ever be able to learn Chinese, but if the Lord wanted me to and had told me that I could, I would try my best. I took a Mandarin Chinese class and I now know a few of the basic sentences needed to speak and understand. It is a continuous learning process. I did not know how to obtain a job in china, or have contacts with anyone in China to talk to about jobs. I again put my trust in the Lord and because of faith, was opened up to contacts as well as being offered two jobs that paid more than average first time English Teachers received. In order to take these jobs, I was required to have a Bachelors’ Degree, or a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate. Obtaining a TEFL Certificate was rather rigorous and difficult. It required one hundred hours of online study and a fourteen-hour written test. I had approximately a month and a half to complete the full course and pass the text or else I would not be able to go. I again became like the people of Egypt and complained. I started to doubt where I was headed and if it was the right direction. My friend who was going to travel to China with me had not been able to get her job and I would then have to go by myself. I was not even sure I wanted to go to China, was all this effort worth it? Again, the Lord put forth his power and insisted I continue to prepare. Still uncertain why, I obeyed and began my 100 hour course for my TEFL Certificate. During that time, my friend was able to find another teaching job within an hour’s distance of mine. I studied hard and long, and by this point, I Wanted to go to China and I would do whatever it took to get there, I even got the required health shots! I took the test, passed with a good percentage and waited anxiously to receive my certificate. I worked everything out with the School I would be teaching at and had food, transportation and living accommodations all figured out. Everything was fitting in to place, just as the Lord had assured me it would. The only item I was now officially waiting for was my Workers Visa. Fourteen days prior to my departure on August 25^th 2009, the Chinese Bureau-Embassy contacted me and informed me that they would not accept my visa application. During my request for my visa application process, the Chinese Bureau had changed their laws and now required me not only to have a TEFL Certificate, but a degree as well. I felt as if I had been stabbed in my stomach by a sword. The following week, all I could ask was “why”? I wanted to go so badly and I had done what the Lord wanted me to do, so why did He have to do this to me? Was I not doing what He told me to do? I felt a loss in direction and was confused of what to do. The only reply I ever received from those around me was “Things happen for a reason, the Lord knows best”. After my frustration and crying daily for a week, I had no clue what I was going to do with my life. The Lord then bluntly told me, “Go to George Wythe”. Instead of questioning Him as I had the last time, I immediately obeyed and did what he had told me to do, not knowing why, yet I trusted Him to know best. Over the past couple years I had been contemplating attending George Wythe, but the time or place did not feel right, but as soon as the Lord told me to go, I did not question or doubt. I hopped online, filled out the registration forms and sent them in before I had even told my parents what the Lord and I had decided to do. Without going through the preparation that had to take place to teach in China, I would never have been prepared to the degree that I needed to be, to come to George Wythe. The Lord puts us through trials to help us become the best that we can be and to help us become stronger. Sometimes our trials may be difficult, such as wandering in the wilderness for forty years until we are able to truly submit and put our trust and faith in the one who does see the bigger picture.