Spiritual ends are never achieved by carnal means. Back in Egypt, as you may recall, Moses had “looked this way and that,” then murdered an Egyptian and buried him with sand. As we have already noted, Moses may have thought he was following God’s plan in that moment, but he never bothered to check signals.
Read MoreTag Archives: Exodus
Shrink-Wrapped Salvation
Moses took a forty-story fall. As we pick up the biblical account, he’s a heavy-hearted, bruised-and-battered soul who has come to a sudden stop at the bottom. In a matter of mere days, he has stepped off the top of the pyramid as Pharaoh-designate and down to a bedraggled, penniless fugitive on the backside of Zipville.
Read MoreBumps in the Road
First surprise. Next confusion, followed by fear, like icy fingers around the heart. When Moses’ well-kept secret hit the prime-time networks, he got the shakes. And acting on fear, the biblical account states that “he fled from the presence of Pharaoh.” Why did he run? Verse 15 tells us, “Pharaoh tried to kill Moses.”
Read MoreHeat but No Light
Moses believed he was to be the deliverer, many years before he received his recommission at the burning bush. He assumed everyone else would realize it too.
Read MoreLet’s Move On
According to Exodus 2:12, Moses hid the body of the slain Egyptian. But by the next day, it was all over the papers. They found the Egyptian. Five inches of loose sand hid nothing.
Read MoreGod Gets It Done
Moses looked this way, and he looked that way. Isn’t it interesting? He didn’t look up, did he? He looked in both directions horizontally, but he ignored the vertical. And what did he do with the results of his murderous anger? Scripture says “he hid the Egyptian in the sand.”
Read MoreGod’s Timing
I’m convinced Moses was doing more than grandstanding. I believe he was absolutely sincere. He didn’t see himself murdering a cruel slave driver as much as courageously striking a blow for God’s people.
Read MoreHave Faith, Have a Plan
Jochebed had faith. She also thought through a very creative plan. I’d like to pause to reflect on this tension between careful planning and full-hearted faith. Are they mutually exclusive? Not on your life! Yet to talk to some believers, you might be led to think otherwise.
Read MoreWe Must Obey God
When we come to passages like the first chapter of Exodus, we are reminded that God’s law always comes before man’s law. Scripture does not teach blind-and-blanket submission. The fact is, there is a time to submit, and there’s also a time to resist.
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