Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Exodus 3 "I Am That I Am"
From Exodus 3:
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
Moses is finding out what his life's purpose is. He is full of doubt and fear. He's afraid the people won't believe him or accept him. And he is in the process of raising all kinds of objections to God about it. But God knew the future. So He told Moses what would happen. The elders of Israel would accept Moses' message. The king of Egypt would be a problem, but God through a series of events (plagues) would handle that. The Egyptians would utlimately be GLAD to see the Israelites go. They would be so glad they would shower the Hebrew people with articles of silver, gold, fine clothing. This would be God's way of stripping the Egyptians of their wealth. After all, they treated God's chosen people badly. There was a price to pay for that. (Later on those items would be used to build God's Tabernacle--Ex. 35:5, 22).
While Moses is dreading and bemoaning his mission, God is telliing him how it's going to go down. God has Moses' back. God has Israel's back. God has this.
I know that God has my future. No, He hasn't told me what it's going to be yet, but I have faith that it is in His hands. Any believer can trust God with his or her future because God already KNOWS what's going to happen.
When Moses asked God, who shall I say is sending me to do this, God told him, "I Am That I Am" (KJV). "I Am has sent me to you." He told Moses to tell the people what God had just told Moses from the burning bush...to tell them what he saw and heard. Like a witness on the witness stand.
Our God is a God who acts and speaks. I have learned that one of the most convincing ways that I can talk to someone else about God is to tell them what He has done for me--after all I am the best witness of that, am I not? Sometimes I share what I have seen or heard He has done in someone else's life or even what He did for the people in the Bible, like Moses. I don't think I've been ashamed to share what God has done for me but I have been afraid. I have grown enough and learned enough and seen enough and heard enough now to overcome that, with God's help, of course. There has never been a time in my life that people needed to hear about God more than right now in the times we live in. We cannot be afraid or ashamed. God is power and only His power can overcome the evil in the world today. And I believe we are living in the end times. Time is running out.
God has told us to spread the Word. That's one of the most important reasons I have to be writing this, praying that someone will read it and be blessed, inspired, helped, whatever God can do with it. It doesn't seem like much to me right now, but that isn't for me to be the final judge. He is who he IS and HE will do the rest. In the meantime, like Moses, it would seem that I have work to do...chronically ill or not.
Exodus 3 "Wash On...Wash Off"
Remember that movie, The Karate Kid, where the young teen wants to learn karate and the guy who promises to teach him has him washing the car and doing all kinds of manual labor? The teacher is specific about how to wash the car, "Wash on...Wash off." The kid gets fed up with all the work and confronts the teacher, only to find out that he now reflixively knows real karate moves based on the way he washed that car! Well, Moses is about to have his own "Wash on...Wash off" moment.
Born a Hebrew, raised an Egyptian, educated, trained, now a shepherd with wilderness skills...God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. God had spent Moses life training him for the task. And here Moses is having a conversation with a burning bush telling him what his life's purpose is. And just like you and me, what is the first thing Moses does? He starts arguing with God that he isn't the man for the job. He raises a lot of objections. He was "What if-ing" God to death! What if I can't do it? What if I talk to the people and they don't believe me? What if they won't listen to me? What if...what if...what if.
Moses felt inadequate. He was overwhelmed. He argued with God (the burning bush---LOL--would YOU argue with a burning bush that wasn't turning to ashes?)
I feel inadequate, unworthy, overwhelmed, and frustrated a lot. Often. Who am I to write a blog about the Bible? Yet, God didn't tell Moses he was going to be working alone. He promised He would be there. By himself, Moses WAS inadequate. So am I. So are you. But Moses wasn't alone and neither are we. God offered other resources to Moses. He offers other resources to us. We've been in training with our own "Wash on...Wash off" moments. We shouldn't hide behind our inadequacies, as Moses tried to do, but look beyond ourselves to the great resources available to us. Then we can allow God to use our unique contributions. I recognize many of my own unique contributions. I recall the excuses at the time, but I also know that I did contribute in the end and God used me and blessed me for it. Thank you, Lord. I hope we can work together like that again! Looking back, it was pretty cool.
Born a Hebrew, raised an Egyptian, educated, trained, now a shepherd with wilderness skills...God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. God had spent Moses life training him for the task. And here Moses is having a conversation with a burning bush telling him what his life's purpose is. And just like you and me, what is the first thing Moses does? He starts arguing with God that he isn't the man for the job. He raises a lot of objections. He was "What if-ing" God to death! What if I can't do it? What if I talk to the people and they don't believe me? What if they won't listen to me? What if...what if...what if.
Moses felt inadequate. He was overwhelmed. He argued with God (the burning bush---LOL--would YOU argue with a burning bush that wasn't turning to ashes?)
I feel inadequate, unworthy, overwhelmed, and frustrated a lot. Often. Who am I to write a blog about the Bible? Yet, God didn't tell Moses he was going to be working alone. He promised He would be there. By himself, Moses WAS inadequate. So am I. So are you. But Moses wasn't alone and neither are we. God offered other resources to Moses. He offers other resources to us. We've been in training with our own "Wash on...Wash off" moments. We shouldn't hide behind our inadequacies, as Moses tried to do, but look beyond ourselves to the great resources available to us. Then we can allow God to use our unique contributions. I recognize many of my own unique contributions. I recall the excuses at the time, but I also know that I did contribute in the end and God used me and blessed me for it. Thank you, Lord. I hope we can work together like that again! Looking back, it was pretty cool.
Exodus 3 Unexpected Communication
Another story from Sunday School days is the one about "The Burning Bush." The time has arrived and God is about to have Himself a little talk with our friend, Moses. It happens one day when Moses is out driving his sheep, into the wilderness of the Sinai mountain (also the mountain where he would one day soon receive God's Ten Commandments!) Big difference from life in the Egyptian palace, huh? He must have been quite humbled by then. While Moses is there, God appears in the form of a burning bush. The thing was on fire yet it wasn't consumed. Not only was the thing on fire, it was talking. Moses investigated and there he met God. Just the two of them. The ground was so holy because of the presence of God that God Himself told Moses to remove his shoes--which he did. God identifies Himself and informs Moses that is the man God has chosen to lead His chosen people, the Israelites, out of bondage in Egypt and back to their own land.
God uses many ways to speak to the people of the Bible, but also to us. He is God, after all. He can do it anyway He wants to. I believe He uses the Bible, people, places, things, thoughts, experiences, and music to speak to me. Perhaps to you, too. I may not always recognize it as "GOD" at the time, but I can look back now and see things along the path I've taken that were the direct hand of God in my life. Music is a big one for me. I am a pianist, sometimes a vocalist. He can use lyrics, or a particular song, or a phrase of music to get through to me. I have learned over time to listen to this--it's NOT a coincidence if a song pops in my head that reminds me of somebody or something that relates to what I may be going through at the time. It's not even always Christian music, though sometimes it certainly is. It's subtle but clear to me even if makes no sense to anyone else but God and me. How does God get your attention? I'd love to hear. Maybe you think, "He doesn't talk to me." Yes, He does. Are YOU listening close enough? And if you're wondering where to start, begin with His Word. Read it. Study it. Pray it. You'll be amazed at the things that will come to you by way of thoughts, memories, questions. Seek Him. You'll find Him. He promised.
God uses many ways to speak to the people of the Bible, but also to us. He is God, after all. He can do it anyway He wants to. I believe He uses the Bible, people, places, things, thoughts, experiences, and music to speak to me. Perhaps to you, too. I may not always recognize it as "GOD" at the time, but I can look back now and see things along the path I've taken that were the direct hand of God in my life. Music is a big one for me. I am a pianist, sometimes a vocalist. He can use lyrics, or a particular song, or a phrase of music to get through to me. I have learned over time to listen to this--it's NOT a coincidence if a song pops in my head that reminds me of somebody or something that relates to what I may be going through at the time. It's not even always Christian music, though sometimes it certainly is. It's subtle but clear to me even if makes no sense to anyone else but God and me. How does God get your attention? I'd love to hear. Maybe you think, "He doesn't talk to me." Yes, He does. Are YOU listening close enough? And if you're wondering where to start, begin with His Word. Read it. Study it. Pray it. You'll be amazed at the things that will come to you by way of thoughts, memories, questions. Seek Him. You'll find Him. He promised.
Exodus 2 Moses Hides Out in Midian
Moses has killed an Egyptian. And he flees to escape punishment. If he had killed a Hebrew man instead of a cruel Egyptian, you can bet he'd have never seen punishment. But what Moses did was wrong and he could not escape the Pharoah's punishment if he stayed. He hid out in Midian. He rescues some women at a well drawing water from some shepherds who tried to run them off. One of the girls would eventually become his wife, Zipporah, daughter of Jethro, who invited Moses to settle with him. He became a stranger in a strange land. It would take many years after running away for Moses to be ready to serve God.
We all feel abandoned or isolated at times because of things we have done or things that have even happened to us. I feel that way often because I am sick and live alone. Thankfully, I have family to help me and support me, but that isn't always enough to stop the loneliness from creeping in around me. I wish I could say I trusted God with this all the time but I don't. I fail to trust Him. But I am working on it and He is helping me with it. He has given me a supportive family. I can trust that He will take care of the rest.
Meanwhile, while Moses is hanging out in Midian, learning to be a shepherd for his father-in-law, the Hebrews are back in Egypt, slaving away and suffering heavily. Of course, God hears them and knows their pain. He sees their suffering, just as He sees ours. He has a plan: "Operation Moses." And Moses is in training, acquiring all kinds of wilderness skills while he sees after those sheep for Jethro. By the way, did you ever wonder how Moses bested all those shepherds who were harrassing the Midianite girls at the well? I'm guessing he was thoroughly trained in Egyptian warfare. The Egyptian military at the time was the most well trained advanced army in the world. He knew how to fight. More training and knowledge that was about to come in quite handy.
It would be nice if our rescue from our own troubles came at the time that WE want it, but God doesn't work like that. The people had waited a long time for God to keep His promise to deliver them. You know they were belly-aching and moaning. Who could blame them? But God heard them. He listened. We belly-ache and moan, too. Who can blame us? We have to trust that God knows the best time to act. He hasn't forgotten us in our painful times no matter how much it may seem that way (I'm telling YOU this and I'm telling ME this!) We have to remember that God has a timetable we just cannot see...except maybe with hindsight, which I hear comes with 20-20 vision!
We all feel abandoned or isolated at times because of things we have done or things that have even happened to us. I feel that way often because I am sick and live alone. Thankfully, I have family to help me and support me, but that isn't always enough to stop the loneliness from creeping in around me. I wish I could say I trusted God with this all the time but I don't. I fail to trust Him. But I am working on it and He is helping me with it. He has given me a supportive family. I can trust that He will take care of the rest.
Meanwhile, while Moses is hanging out in Midian, learning to be a shepherd for his father-in-law, the Hebrews are back in Egypt, slaving away and suffering heavily. Of course, God hears them and knows their pain. He sees their suffering, just as He sees ours. He has a plan: "Operation Moses." And Moses is in training, acquiring all kinds of wilderness skills while he sees after those sheep for Jethro. By the way, did you ever wonder how Moses bested all those shepherds who were harrassing the Midianite girls at the well? I'm guessing he was thoroughly trained in Egyptian warfare. The Egyptian military at the time was the most well trained advanced army in the world. He knew how to fight. More training and knowledge that was about to come in quite handy.
It would be nice if our rescue from our own troubles came at the time that WE want it, but God doesn't work like that. The people had waited a long time for God to keep His promise to deliver them. You know they were belly-aching and moaning. Who could blame them? But God heard them. He listened. We belly-ache and moan, too. Who can blame us? We have to trust that God knows the best time to act. He hasn't forgotten us in our painful times no matter how much it may seem that way (I'm telling YOU this and I'm telling ME this!) We have to remember that God has a timetable we just cannot see...except maybe with hindsight, which I hear comes with 20-20 vision!
Exodus 2 Moses Kills an Egyptian
Moses may have been raised an Egyptian, but he was a Hebrew by birth. The slavery and cruelty to the people of his heritage was more than he could bear. So one day when he sees an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews, he looks around to see if anyone is watching and he kills the Egyptian and buries him in the sand. The next day he finds out someone did see him and he goes on the run. He ends up in Midian.
Moses tried to make sure no one was watching him. Aren't we all guilty of that at times? We mistakenly think we can get away with something and sooner or later it catches up with us, just like it did with Moses. Of course, God sees and knows everything. Even if our sinful ways do not come to light during our lifetime, we will still have to face God and His judgment of our actions (and, uh, that includes our motives). Thank God that He forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all our nasty unrighteousness if we will just confess our sins and ask His forgiveness.
It also gladdens my heart to know that if God can forgive Moses for killing a man and then use him with the important task He assigned to Moses that God can use me, too. Even with all my flaws.
Moses tried to make sure no one was watching him. Aren't we all guilty of that at times? We mistakenly think we can get away with something and sooner or later it catches up with us, just like it did with Moses. Of course, God sees and knows everything. Even if our sinful ways do not come to light during our lifetime, we will still have to face God and His judgment of our actions (and, uh, that includes our motives). Thank God that He forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all our nasty unrighteousness if we will just confess our sins and ask His forgiveness.
It also gladdens my heart to know that if God can forgive Moses for killing a man and then use him with the important task He assigned to Moses that God can use me, too. Even with all my flaws.
Exodus 2 Moses Is Born & Rescued
Moses's parents, Jochebed and Amram, are married and give birth to their son during the time of Pharoah's cruel law to murder all Hebrew baby boys. I remember the story from Sunday School as a little girl, when Moses' mother makes a basket, waterproofs it and hides the baby on the Nile River among the many reeds. The baby's sister, Miriam, watches over the baby until the baby is spotted by the Egyptian princess who has compassion and instant love for the little helpless baby. Miriam approaches her about finding a nurse for the baby among the Hebrew women and the princess quickly agrees AND offers to pay the woman to take care of the baby. Of course, Miriam runs and gets her mom, Moses' mom, and thus Moses' life is spared. I am a mother and I can only imagine the joy and the relief of that mother! The family is reunited. Moses grows up in the palace, with an Egyptian upbringing and education, even if with a Hebrew heritage.
The Bible doesn't tell us if Miriam, the sister, was afraid to approach the princess or if the princess was leery of the Hebrew girl. What we do know is that Miriam saw an opportunity and she took it. We are sometimes faced with opportunities that come our way unexpectedly. Sometimes we take advantage of them and sometimes we do not. I have done both. Sometimes I have let the fear of what might happen keep me from pursuing the opportunity when what I should have done was to thank God for the opportunity and to trust Him. We can never know how many lives could be affected by our missed opportunities. I live with chronic illness now and I struggle. I cannot see past my troubles at times. I worry about what I cannot do anymore and let it paralyze me from doing things I can do now. I ask you to pray for me and with me about that. My prayer is that God will help me to see opportunities He wants me to grab on to, that He will help me FOCUS on Him and trust Him for the outcome. I think that may be all God needs for Him to do His work in me. I consider this blog to be one of those opportunities.
The Bible doesn't tell us if Miriam, the sister, was afraid to approach the princess or if the princess was leery of the Hebrew girl. What we do know is that Miriam saw an opportunity and she took it. We are sometimes faced with opportunities that come our way unexpectedly. Sometimes we take advantage of them and sometimes we do not. I have done both. Sometimes I have let the fear of what might happen keep me from pursuing the opportunity when what I should have done was to thank God for the opportunity and to trust Him. We can never know how many lives could be affected by our missed opportunities. I live with chronic illness now and I struggle. I cannot see past my troubles at times. I worry about what I cannot do anymore and let it paralyze me from doing things I can do now. I ask you to pray for me and with me about that. My prayer is that God will help me to see opportunities He wants me to grab on to, that He will help me FOCUS on Him and trust Him for the outcome. I think that may be all God needs for Him to do His work in me. I consider this blog to be one of those opportunities.
Exodus 1 The Hebrew People
Exodus opens 400 years after Joseph moved his family to Egypt. The descendents of Abraham have multipled into a nation of about 2 million people there (from some sources I have read). The Pharoah of Egypt has become afraid of their increasing numbers and decides to make them slaves. Slavery was common among captured nations, but the Hebrews were not captives. He wants to break their spirit, keep them from growing, and in general weaken their strength. He is cruel to them. He is so afraid of them he orders the death of any baby boys born to the Hebrew slaves. In spite of the cruel and heartless pharoah, the Hebrews thrive and grow stronger. The Hebrew midwives fear God more than Pharoah though and they know it is wrong to kill babies. When they are called out for not killing the baby boys that are born, they lie to the authorities and claim that Hebrew women give birth 'differently' than Egyptian wives. They claim they just cannot get there in time (lol). Even though they lie, God blesses them for letting the baby boys live, while Pharoah's problem grows.
Sometimes I feel burdened and mistreated, not unlike those Hebrew slaves. And I'm sure I don't have half the problem they did. I am not a well person and live with chronic illness every day. I'm sick, I hurt, I can't do things I used to be able to do, I'm lonely and isolated. Even so, God is teaching me things through this I would never have learned otherwise. I survive by keeping that in mind these days! (lol) I've heard we cannot be overcomers if there is nothing to overcome. It took the character and the courage of those Hebrew midwives and those Hebrew slaves to overcome their burdens. Little did they know at the time, but the Children of Israel were about to embark on the journey of their lives. They would need their survival skills on their journey. We need OUR survival skills on OUR journey, too.
Sometimes I feel burdened and mistreated, not unlike those Hebrew slaves. And I'm sure I don't have half the problem they did. I am not a well person and live with chronic illness every day. I'm sick, I hurt, I can't do things I used to be able to do, I'm lonely and isolated. Even so, God is teaching me things through this I would never have learned otherwise. I survive by keeping that in mind these days! (lol) I've heard we cannot be overcomers if there is nothing to overcome. It took the character and the courage of those Hebrew midwives and those Hebrew slaves to overcome their burdens. Little did they know at the time, but the Children of Israel were about to embark on the journey of their lives. They would need their survival skills on their journey. We need OUR survival skills on OUR journey, too.
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