THE STORY, Chapter 4
Exodus 1-7, 10-14
Deliverance
God's Anger
Moses said, "Lord, please send someone else." . . . .Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses. Exodus 4:13-14
Reflection
When God called Moses at the burning bush, he was reluctant to do what God asked. He made excuses and tried to get out of the call to lead his people out of Egypt. Rather than gentle encouragement we learn that Yahweh "burned with anger."
God cares about hurting, oppressed, and disadvantaged people and he calls on believers to intervene on their behalf. If we say no, our "no" is not a small deal to God. God doesn't just ask, He expects us to be "our brother's keeper."
To what call of God on your life have you said no? Will you repent and say yes?
Prayer
“Lord, forgive me for resisting your call on me to (fill in the blank) ________________________________. Show me my next step in following you and with your help I will take it. In Christ's name. Amen."
Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do."
ReplyDeleteI absolutely see gentle encouragement in God's response:
Look at the way God presented this option to Moses for one thing. He didn't berate Moses or "lay down the law" to Moses, he 'coaxed' Moses. He offered Moses an alternative in a way to get Moses to THINK. If anything, God gave us a perfect example of how to handle our anger in this response.
Next He gave him hope by telling Moses that Aaron will be coming soon and would be glad to see him. God provided help through someone Moses loved and who loved Moses, someone close and trustworthy.
Next he gave Moses self assurrance, "I will help BOTH of you speak and will teach you what to do." In other words, "you don't have to do this alone and what's more I will be with you every step of the way"
Indeed, I feel God was extremely encouraging and gentle about it. Moses, however must have still rebelled in his heart for later in verse 24, God was going to kill him. Perhaps the struggle between growing up Egyptian but being birthed an Israelite was coming in to play. Moses just didn't want to go back to those who raised him. Perhaps there was still a tie there that needed to be decided. In verse 25, it was.
Moses was called to help his family of Israelites and God sent him his family, his brother, to accomplish it.
This isn't applicable to just the poor in general, it is the example for the family of believers.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, ESPECIALLY to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9