The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States “I’m sending you to Pharaoh—I will be with you” for Tuesday, 23 August 2016
Exodus 3:7 Adonai said, “I have seen how my people are being oppressed in Egypt and heard their cry for release from their slavemasters, because I know their pain. 8 I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that country to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the place of the Kena‘ani, Hitti, Emori, P’rizi, Hivi and Y’vusi. 9 Yes, the cry of the people of Isra’el has come to me, and I have seen how terribly the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Therefore, now, come; and I will send you to Pharaoh; so that you can lead my people, the descendants of Isra’el, out of Egypt.”
11 Moshe said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the people of Isra’el out of Egypt?” 12 He replied, “I will surely be with you. Your sign that I have sent you will be that when you have led the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
-------
At first Moses just seemed curious. “How can that bush be in flames, yet not burn up?” Then he took off his sandals and hid his face from God’s glorious presence. But God’s call— “I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people…out of Egypt” truly shocked Moses. His first reply was, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh?” Moses had grown up in Pharaoh’s court—he knew the king’s arrogance and claims to being a god. But God promised Moses, “I will be with you.”
Prayer: Lord God, there was only one Moses. But there are many missions, large and small,
needed to help your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Show me my mission(s), and guide and strengthen me for them. Amen.
-------
Insights from Randy Greene
Randy Greene serves in the Communications ministry as the Digital Media Specialist. He helps develop and maintain the church’s family of websites.
As I reflect on my life to this point, I can identify one or two times when God called me to do something big that was far outside my comfort zone. For example, a few years ago God asked my wife and I to pack up and move to a town where we didn’t know anyone. Shannon had accepted an associate pastoral position at a church in this town, but I had no job prospects and no income, so moving was a big step of faith.
More often in my life, though, God has called me to take baby steps of trust, like painting walls at a local school, teaching a class at church, hosting a root beer float party so I can build relationships with my neighbors, or serving the local community with FaithWork.
Moses spent the first eighty years of his life preparing for God’s big call on his life, but I can’t imagine he was simply resting on his heels during that time. I think it was probably filled with many little nudges from God that, as Moses obeyed, nurtured and challenged his heart, soul, and mind. If he hadn’t obeyed in those little moments, in those small acts of faith, he may have never followed God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
When I’m wandering in the wilderness of my life seeking God’s big call in my life, I have to remember to listen for God’s little nudges. Those little calls are important, character-building parts of God’s big plan for me; when I remember that, I take those moments and those decisions seriously, embracing them and daring to walk forward one step – one baby step – at a time into a more faithful relationship with my God.
-------
Join us for worship today - click here for information on worship times and locations. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.
-------
11 Moshe said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the people of Isra’el out of Egypt?” 12 He replied, “I will surely be with you. Your sign that I have sent you will be that when you have led the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
-------
At first Moses just seemed curious. “How can that bush be in flames, yet not burn up?” Then he took off his sandals and hid his face from God’s glorious presence. But God’s call— “I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people…out of Egypt” truly shocked Moses. His first reply was, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh?” Moses had grown up in Pharaoh’s court—he knew the king’s arrogance and claims to being a god. But God promised Moses, “I will be with you.”
- Moses didn’t feel strong enough, or important enough, to carry out God’s astonishing call. Go as one man, with no army at all, and demand that Pharaoh let most of his slave labor force go just because God told him to? How did God respond in verse 12? What limits do you see on your ability to live for God? How (if at all) does it change your view of those limits if you believe God will be with you?
- Moses, raised in a palace, had spent years following a flock of sheep or goats around in the desert. Do you suppose he ever thought, during those long years, “I guess this is all God has for me”? In what ways was his realization that, on his own, he wasn’t anywhere near strong or important enough to carry out the divine commission a key part of what made him an instrument God could use?
Prayer: Lord God, there was only one Moses. But there are many missions, large and small,
needed to help your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Show me my mission(s), and guide and strengthen me for them. Amen.
-------
Insights from Randy Greene
Randy Greene serves in the Communications ministry as the Digital Media Specialist. He helps develop and maintain the church’s family of websites.As I reflect on my life to this point, I can identify one or two times when God called me to do something big that was far outside my comfort zone. For example, a few years ago God asked my wife and I to pack up and move to a town where we didn’t know anyone. Shannon had accepted an associate pastoral position at a church in this town, but I had no job prospects and no income, so moving was a big step of faith.
More often in my life, though, God has called me to take baby steps of trust, like painting walls at a local school, teaching a class at church, hosting a root beer float party so I can build relationships with my neighbors, or serving the local community with FaithWork.
Moses spent the first eighty years of his life preparing for God’s big call on his life, but I can’t imagine he was simply resting on his heels during that time. I think it was probably filled with many little nudges from God that, as Moses obeyed, nurtured and challenged his heart, soul, and mind. If he hadn’t obeyed in those little moments, in those small acts of faith, he may have never followed God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
When I’m wandering in the wilderness of my life seeking God’s big call in my life, I have to remember to listen for God’s little nudges. Those little calls are important, character-building parts of God’s big plan for me; when I remember that, I take those moments and those decisions seriously, embracing them and daring to walk forward one step – one baby step – at a time into a more faithful relationship with my God.
-------
Join us for worship today - click here for information on worship times and locations. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment