FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY (PART 1)
April 6, 2025
TEXT: Exodus 4:10-12
KEY VERSE: And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. Exodus 4:10
In 2019, a young Kenyan man named Peter Mwangi was working as a security guard in Nairobi. One day, he noticed a group of young children playing near a busy road and saw that they were in danger of being hit by cars. He rushed to their aid and managed to save the children from harm. This simple act of compassion was the spark that ignited his extraordinary journey, one that would transform his own life and that of countless others.
Moved by his experience, Peter began a project called “Protecting Our Little Ones,” using his meager salary to buy reflective jackets for the children and educating parents on road safety. Word of his project spread, and Peter’s selfless efforts drew support from local businesses and individuals. His simple act of courage grew into a community initiative that has saved many children’s lives.
Like Moses, who was called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt despite his fears, Peter heeded the call to action and transformed from an ordinary man to an extraordinary leader.
THE STORY OF MOSES
In the pages of the Bible, we find the story of an ordinary shepherd named Moses. Born a Hebrew, he was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in the palace. Yet, as he grew, his heart turned toward his Hebrew brothers and sisters. In an attempt to defend a fellow Hebrew, he accidentally killed an Egyptian. Fearing for his life, he fled to the wilderness, where he spent years tending sheep.
And so, Moses lived in the wilderness for forty years as an ordinary shepherd. But God had other plans for him. One day, as Moses was tending sheep on Mount Horeb, he noticed a bush that was on fire but was not consumed. It was there that God called him by name and told him, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
God told Moses that he was going to use him to deliver the Hebrew people from their slavery in Egypt. Though Moses was initially hesitant, it wasn’t just because he was an ordinary man. He also felt inadequate because of his stammering. He told God, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it. I am not a man of words; I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me’ (Exodus 4:10).
As we read in Exodus 4:12, God reassures Moses by saying, “Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” This shows that God recognized Moses’s weaknesses but also provided him with the strength and wisdom he needed to fulfill his calling.
Through his obedience to God and his perseverance in the face of challenges, Moses led the Hebrews to safety, demonstrating extraordinary faith and leadership. His story is a powerful reminder that even those who feel ordinary or inadequate can achieve extraordinary things when they rely on God’s strength and guidance.
CONNECTING THE STORIES
Here’s how we can connect the story of Peter Mwangi with the story of Moses:
📌 Both Peter Mwangi and Moses started out as ordinary people. Peter was just a security guard, and Moses was a shepherd.
📌 Both men were given a calling or task from a higher power – Peter noticed the children in danger and was moved to act; Moses was called by God in the burning bush and was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
📌 Both men stepped into their roles despite their initial fear or reluctance.
As Moses’s journey shows, God can do incredible things through ordinary people when they answer His call. Like Moses, Peter Mwangi answered a call to protect children and make a difference in his community.
Let us all remember that our perceived weaknesses do not define us. With God’s grace, we can achieve extraordinary things in our own lives and communities. Let us embrace the courage and faith that God grants us, and be open to His guidance and wisdom as we walk in His path.
SEARCHLIGHT: The most ordinary people have the potential to achieve extraordinary things when they answer God’s call.
PRAYER: Oh Lord, today I take the first step towards unlocking my full potential. Transition me from ordinary to extraordinary, and help me become all that you have destined me to be, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 6-8, 1 Corinthians 12
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
