Bible Readings
(Extracts from Exodus Chapters 3 & 4, Moses and the Burning Bush)
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“…I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.”
… Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”
Thought
Last Tuesday my parents celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. It was a very quiet celebration as they are both in their eighties and shielding at home. A great deal has changed in the 58 years that they have been married. Back in 1962 man had not been to the moon, telephones were used just for making phone calls and you definitely didn’t carry them about with you, there were no such things as home computers and if you needed to contact someone while you were on holiday you probably sent them a postcard. My parents’ lives have changed in so many ways during their married life, but some things have remained constant. My mum’s day has started in the same way for her entire married life; each morning my dad gets up first and he makes my mum a cup of tea which she drinks in bed, only on a few occasions has it not been possible for this to happen. During the day several more cups of tea/coffee/hot chocolate are also made by dad.
In the 58 years that they have been married my dad has made my mum well over 100,000 beverages. This got me wondering. What would have happened, if at their wedding ceremony the person officiating had asked “David, do you promise to make this woman over 100,000 beverages over the next 58 years?” The prospect of such a large undertaking might have been just too much for my dad and he might have been put off and changed his mind.
The story of Moses gives reassurance to those of us who feel overwhelmed by any situation we are taking on. For if God could use Moses he could use any one of us. Moses was certainly overwhelmed by the prospect of what he was being asked to do and he had plenty of excuses as to why it shouldn’t be him. God had an answer for each one of his objections and in the end Moses became a great leader. It didn’t happen overnight, it took him many years, he made many mistakes but in the end he always came back to God. We may not be called to lead a nation, as Moses was, but whatever task we have, we need to take it just one day at a time, one cup of tea at a time so to speak, and with God working within us, through his Spirit, we can achieve what God wants us to do.
Prayer
Father God, we thank you for the example of the saints that you have surrounded us with, both those who have gone before us and those whose lives we have been able to share. We ask for your guidance and patience to undertake whatever task you have for us.
Amen