From the Morning Scriptures

Well, kind of. 🙂

For some reason the Lectionary excluded these passages but I want to comment on them anyway because they tell a good story of how we are meant to live life and how God equips us to do so if we will let him.

Now when the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt, he said to him, “I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.” But Moses said to the LORD, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them.

—Exodus 6:28-7:6 (TNIV)

Here we see another example of human intransigence, and from Moses no less! Once again Moses complains to God that he is not equipped to fulfill God’s call to him. He reminds God that he is not a good speaker, something that he considers to be a bit of a problem considering that God wants him to speak to pharaoh on his behalf and on behalf of God’s people.

But did you notice God’s gracious response to Moses’ complaint? God does not get angry that Moses is balking at his commands yet again. Instead, God reminds Moses that he will equip him with everything he needs to accomplish his work. Moses will be “like God to Pharaoh.” In other words, God will equip Moses and Aaron with everything they need to speak to pharaoh on God’s behalf.

Do you resist God’s call to you? Are you reluctant to accept God’s gracious promise to be with you to help you accomplish his will for you and others through you? Do you think you have a better plan than God’s? Do you trust God enough to count and rely on his help and his Presence? Moses and Aaron ultimately obeyed God, despite Moses’ repeated reservations and protestations, and as Jesus reminded us, obedience is ultimately the name of the game.

As you observe a holy Lent (or even if you are not trying to do so), do you go through life relying on the Power of God to see you through life or are you choosing to be a rugged individualist and see things through on your own? If you are pursuing the latter course, how’s that working for you?