Thoughts for September 03, 2006

Scripture Readings Leading to
Sunday September 10, 2006

Exodus 1,2,3                        The Call of Moses
Luke 5:27-32, 6:12-16, 8:1-3, 19-21      Call of the Apostles             

Except for Abraham, Moses is probably the most important figure of the Old Testament.  God used Moses’ leadership to bring the people of God into the promised land.  No one else can claim that distinction.  He was prophet, priest, a person of justice, he acted with malice and grace.  He did it all.  
The story of Moses birth and call to service is by it’s self amazing and I plan to preach particularly about the women who’s disobedience made Moses life possible.  Sometimes a little civil disobedience can be a heavenly thing, but we must be careful to count the costs and ready to take responsibility for our actions.  The mid-wives were not willing to let the Hebrew children die as they were instructed.  They then lied to cover their actions.  Have you had an experience when this was your story as well?

The story takes the baby Moses into pharaoh’s house as a ward of pharaoh’s daughter.  He is given the Egyptian name Moses (say Mo-ses, like Ram-ses.)  He grew and was educated but felt the pain of the Hebrews who suffered in slavery.  He killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave.  Worried that he would be caught, he fled the country to the wilderness where he found a nomadic family who needed someone to watch the sheep.  It was here Moses encounter God in the burning bush.  Notice that Moses has narrowly escaped at every turn of his life.  In addition he has killed a man, lied to cover the death, and then fled as a fugitive.  If God was ever going to choose someone to use to save the people, this guy would have to be at the bottom of the list.  And yet, God works in mysterious ways, even in our lives.

You know the rest of the story.  Moses went back to Egypt and led the people out into the wilderness where they wandered for 40 years before finally entering the promised land of Israel.  We note that Moses did not enter, he died across the Jordan River.  Moses did not enter the land but through his faithfulness, he did move himself and all the people of God just a little closer to home.     Blessings,  Dave Weesner

Sunday Worship
Scripture: Exodus 1:15-21
Sermon Title: “When Being Bad, Isn’t”