What did Moses’ mother think would happen when she put her
son in the basket and set him adrift on the river? She clearly loved this child so it seems
unlikely she thought he would die in the basket. His sister Miriam hid and watched to see what
would happen. The rabbis say this is
where Miriam got her reputation as a prophetess, she knew what would come next
and prepared herself to be part of God’s plan of keeping Moses united with his
mother for nursing, so he would know his true identity. How did Pharaoh’s sister know that this was
one of the Hebrew children? Circumcision
must surely be the answer. Later, most
sources say around forty years, Moses identifies with the suffering of his
people and attempts to intervene on their behalf. He finds that they aren’t particularly
thankful for his efforts, something he will truly know for forty years in the
wilderness. The question the other
Hebrews ask is something that clearly plays on his mind for the next forty
years, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?” He will not willingly or easily presume to be
prince and judge over these people, he will require a good bit of convincing
and this question will have to be answered before he is willing to go back. It seems that the best place for a male of
this race to find a wife is always at a well and interesting that the young
women assume Moses is an Egyptian.
Peter didn’t know what to say but he, being Peter, had to
say something. How did he know that the
other two there were Moses and Elijah, it isn’t like there were pictures to go by. It had been over a thousand years since these
men had died and yet they seem to know immediately who they are. Jesus’ transfiguration tells us that the veil
is lifted to display His glory, the glory of the One and only Son. Moses wore a veil to hide the fact that his
glory was fading in the times in-between his visits with God. Jesus’ glory was veiled during His existence
and yet John and Peter both reflected on this moment in their writings as a
defining moment in their faith journey. When
the voice from heaven speaks, suddenly these others, representing the law and
the prophets, are gone and Jesus alone remains as the one to whom they should
listen, the Word. They don’t understand
about the resurrection from the dead but how could they?
The gifts are to be used for mission and ministry but they
are to be used in light of the Great Commandments of loving God and loving our
neighbors. Too often pride enters the
picture and we use the gifts out of a love for ourselves and a desire to edify
ourselves. Moses surely knew his own
story and thought he had been God’s chosen instrument for alleviation of the
suffering of his people, living as a child of the royal family, but he wasn’t
to intervene, only to intercede while God worked on their behalf. He had to learn to love the people in spite
of their rejection of him, their grumbling about him, and their disobedience
before he was of true value. Jesus’
death on the cross, indeed His righteousness, was based in His love for the
Father and for the people. Motivation
matters. Think of Jesus’ words with the
woman caught in adultery, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” That could have been a triumphant declaration
to let him go first but love motivated Him to lay aside His own claim in favor
of forgiveness.
Let us wonder; grace
and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God.
Join and point to mercy’s store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God.
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