When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. – Exodus 2:15

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 7, 2015): Exodus 2

In the fight with the Jabberwocky, Alice reminds herself that she can think of six impossible things before breakfast. But as she prepares to fight the jabberwocky, she begins to list six impossible things that she has thought of since her tumble through the rabbit hole. The first is that there is a potion that can make you shrink. The second is that there is a cake that can make you grow. The third impossible thing is that animals can talk. And the fourth is that cats can disappear. The fifth is that there is place called Wonderland. And the last impossible thing that Alice thought is that she can slay the Jabberwocky. Luckily for Alice, the impossible is possible when you find yourself in Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland is one of the best examples of Nonsense Literature. Strictly defined, nonsense literature is literature that defies language conventions and logical reasoning. Lewis Carroll and Dr. Seuss have been capturing our imagination with their nonsense for decades. Riddles are nonsense only until an answer is found. The most famous Nonsense riddle is found in Lewis’ story of Alice’s journey into Wonderland – why is a raven like a writing-desk? Many people have tried to find the answer, but even in Wonderland an answer doesn’t exist. When Alice final gives up on finding the answer, the Mad Hatter admits that he doesn’t know the answer either. It is all nonsense.

We don’t often think of the Bible being nonsense literature, but in many ways it exhibits evidence of being just that. It often seems to defy language convention and logical sense. And maybe no story more than this one. I am not sure that Moses understood everything that was happening around him. The truth is that he seemed to be reacting emotionally to the situation, rather than being a man with a plan. But the reality was that if he was going to do something to change the circumstances of his people, from an earthly view he was in a position to do exactly that. And yet, from a heavenly view, Moses was simply too big for God to use. And to us that seems like nonsense.

The Pharaoh, after he had heard of murder of the Egyptian, really had no choice but to execute Moses. Moses was not just guilty of the murder of an Egyptian, but Pharaoh would have believed that he also was a supporter of a possible slave revolt. But because of Moses position in Egypt, Moses was also too big for the Pharaoh to deal with quickly. And that fact gave Moses a chance to leave. So he left.

And God began to take Moses on a journey that would make him smaller. And when he had become small enough, God knew that he would be able to accomplish great things through him. But first Moses had to go to Midian, and sit down beside a well, an act of foreigner who is unable to take care of himself – and is in need of help.     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 3