Today's Scripture Reading (November 4, 2024): Exodus 4
A fictional
story tells the tale of Jesus's arrival in heaven after his time on earth was finished.
If you can imagine the group of disciples who were standing around watching
Jesus disappear into the clouds, maybe you can imagine a group of angels
gathering around Jesus as he reappears at his heavenly home. Jesus explained to
the angels how he had lived among the people, sharing his teachings, expressing
his love, and then dying on a cross to atone for humanity's sin. Then, he returned
to life and declared that a new Kingdom was at hand.
According to
the imaginative tale, when he had finished telling the story of his time on
earth, Michael, the archangel, asked the Lord, "What happens now?" In
my mind, I have this image of Michael as a military general among the company of
angels. So, when the angels come marching into our spiritual battles, I always see
Michael in the lead. He is big and strong and not someone with whom I would
want to pick an argument.
I can imagine
Michael thinking about the new Kingdom in military terms. In the forefront of
his mind, Michael would have wondered what he needed to do now. Michael would
worry about how he needed to prepare his troops. He might have said, "Jesus,
I am at your command. Tell me what you need me to do." In the fictional
story, Jesus answers Michael with these words. "I have left a handful of
faithful men and women. They will tell the story! They will express my love!
They will spread my Kingdom!"
"But
what if they fail?" Michael might ask, "What then will be our plan?"
Jesus answers
Michael by saying, "There is no other plan!"
I often want
to ask the same question when I read this strange little story about Moses.
Israel is in bondage, but God has heard their cries all the way up in heaven.
God remembered his promise, the one that he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. And this God, creator of the entire universe, the omniscient,
omnipresent, and omnipotent One, has condescended and limited himself to one
little bush in a moment in time so that he can talk to an escaped convict who
happens to be hiding out in the hills as a shepherd.
And this God
puts a call on this convict's life. He tells him of all the wonderful things
that He will do through him, including setting a whole people of slaves free. He
argues that through this escaped convict, a nation and, more importantly, a
community of God who will bless the entire world will develop.
But God has placed his power
inside of the man. And if the man is going to win against the forces that are
raised against him, he will have to depend on the God who has set the task in
front of him. There will be setbacks, and the journey won't be easy, but this
convict decides to continue to follow God's plan. He has committed himself to
continuing the journey.
Too often, I wonder if we
have lost this lesson from the life of Moses. We see the opposition and
setbacks and think that God has left us, when in reality, he is still there,
still guiding us, and the victory is still ahead. I often need to remember
Moses when I see the obstacles before me. I still need to know that the path
might be challenging, but God is with me, and his strength is working through
me. And the same is true for you. Decide today to go and be a Moses in your
world.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Exodus 5
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