January 22

Scripture and Observation:

Exodus 3-5

While Moses is performing his duties as shepherd for his father-in-law, he sees a bush on fire, but not burning up.  It piques his curiosity, so he moves closer to investigate.  God speaks to him from the bush, letting him know that that He knows the sufferings of His people in Egypt.  God tells Moses that Moses is being sent into the land to bring out all Israel to freedom, to a promised land flowing with milk and honey. 

Moses wonders why he is chosen for this task.  He wonders if the elders of Israel will believe him.  He wonders how he will speak to the king of Egypt.  How will this all work, and are you sure you want ME?  God gives him signs to show the elders and allows Moses’ brother Aaron to speak for Moses.  So Moses finally gathers his family and returns to Egypt with the blessing of his father-in-law. 

Aaron greets Moses and they go to the elders, then to the Pharaoh.  Pharaoh pays no heed to the request to be allowed to travel into the desert to sacrifice to God.  Well, actually he punishes the slaves for Moses’ and Aaron’s question.  He maintains the brick-per-day quota, but withholds the needed supply of straw to make them.  The people are beaten for failing in their work and blame Moses for their sorrow.  Moses prays to God, asking why things aren’t working out as promised.  (He may have forgotten that God did promise that Pharaoh would refuse!)

Luke 22

Jesus shares in the Passover with His disciples in an upper room He had them prepare.  He says that He will not eat the Passover again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God, and that he will be betrayed by one there.  He also tells Simon Peter that He is praying for him to be strengthened.  Simon Peter impetuously retorts that he is ready to go wherever Jesus goes.  Jesus lets him know that Peter will deny even knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crows.

They leave the dinner and go to the garden to pray.  Jesus asks God to remove this cup of suffering if it is his will.  He returns from fervent prayer to find his friends all sleeping.  Judas approaches with those who want to arrest Jesus.  Peter cuts off a soldier's ear to protect Jesus, but Jesus stops Peter and heals the ear.  Jesus knows it is time.

He is taken and beaten, teased, and blasphemed.  At the same time Peter fulfills Jesus prophesy and denies Christ three times.

Application and Prayer:

God gives us promises sometimes, and they don’t always turn out the way we see them in our imagination.  Moses was a rather reluctant hero from the get-go, but he is truly unsettled when, after the first request to leave, things get even worse for the Israelites.  Moses is so perfectly human and he was Chosen by the One Who knew whom to choose.  God doesn’t make mistakes!  Moses was the right man for this job, and yet we can laugh at his moments of reticent and faithlessness.   Who me?  Why?  But…  Are you sure?  What on earth are You doing?  He comes to God so openly.  He is transparent in his everything.  There is no false humility, and no false pride.  There is no boasting in himself, and at time none in the Lord.  He questions, doubts…

Lord, thank you for choosing flawed Moses for such an enormous task.  Thank you for making me as me, and for loving me in spite of me.  Thank you for letting me be wholly me, knowing You will mold me in Your image, and I have no reason to hide any bit of myself from You.