Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." – Exodus 6:1

Today's Scripture Reading (November 6, 2024): Exodus 6

It is often hard to see the end when you are in the middle of the story. During the twentieth century, civilization went through several huge events, from two world wars to the tearing down of the Iron Curtain, a barrier that essentially divided the West from the East. I have admitted that having lived through the era of division and the terror of the conflict with the Soviet Union, I saw no possibility of returning to a reunited Germany or of the breakup of the Soviet Union into Russia and the various individual nations that existed in the Russian orbit. I couldn't see how the city of Berlin could ever be reunited when they had spent more than four decades growing in different directions. I couldn't see the end of the story, and yet, that chapter of world history did draw to a close, and the things I couldn't imagine would happen took place.

After the Soviet Union dissolved and the various nations began to exert their distinct personalities, I couldn't imagine the day when a Russian leader would once again try to get the band back together. And yet, that seems to be what is happening as I write these words in 2024. There have been many other times when I couldn't even guess what the end of the story would look like. I guess I am not much of a prophet.

As we read these words in the story of Moses at the beginning of the Israelite Exodus, we need to recognize that the hero of the story is discouraged. Back in the 70s, Alice Cooper sang about a vision of the singer in Hell. At the end of the dream, Cooper sings a beautiful song called "Wake Me Gently." In the song, he returns from Hell and sees his body lying in his bedroom. And he sings these words;

I look so lifeless on this bed.
Laid out on satin sheets
This dream's a novel
That I don't dare complete
No happy ending read.

I think the hero's dead (Alice Cooper, Dick Wagner, Bob Ezrin).

I can imagine that this is precisely where Moses finds himself. Not only is he underwhelmed by God, but the prophet is very impressed by the magicians who serve the Pharaoh. At this moment, Moses has to wonder if he made a mistake in coming in from the wilderness to undertake this mission in Egypt. He likely sees not only the demise of the children of Israel but of himself as well. Moses can't even imagine a happy ending to the story. Yet, God declares that he is not done. He still has some tricks up his sleeve. God declares to Moses that you might not be able to see the end of the story, but I can. Not only will Israel escape Egypt, but you will also go with the Pharaoh's blessing. Pharaoh will drive you out of Egypt. You just need to remain faithful.

We might not be able to see the end of the story, but God isn't done with us either. We just need to remain faithful and let God write the next chapter of our story.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Exodus 7