Aaron was the first Cyrano, who speaks for his less eloquent
friend or brother in this case. The Lord
was angry with Moses for saying, “Here am I, send someone else.” Moses was chosen by God and had this
incredible personal encounter, how could he say this? He remembered what happened forty years
earlier and has no confidence but his confidence is still in self. Moses has apparently forsaken the law of the
Lord concerning circumcision concerning his son. He cannot go and represent God to the people
if he is not completely identified with them and, more importantly, with the
Lord. Apparently Moses was incapacitated
from performing the circumcision himself so Zipporah does the procedure and
then touches Moses’ feet (euphemism?) to connect him with the circumcision in
the same way a worshiper was to lay hands on the animal prior to the
sacrifice. When he and Aaron go to the
people, they find that God was right, the people believed and worshipped.
It always amazes me that after the few saw the Transfiguration
and they all saw their inability to do anything about the boy with the demon
who wanted to kill him that only Jesus was able to deal with that they are
arguing about which of them was
greatest. Why, pray tell, did it
matter? Jesus should have been their
only concern and yet He wasn’t. To be honest, it sounds like us arguing over
preachers or teachers when our eyes should be on HIM. In response, Jesus says the way to greatness
is the kingdom is through service to one another, no longer seeking greatness. The parable of the child and the words that
end this passage are at one with another.
To receive Jesus is to receive the one who sent Him and to receive one
whom Jesus sent is to receive Jesus Himself.
The gift of tongues can indeed lead to an inward curvature
and to pride. It is such an unusual gift
in the sense that it is obviously a gift that it can become a badge of
honor. Many gifts can come and go and
leave room for doubt, all are not healed, prophets should have some humility
about their ability to discern all things, those with the gift of
interpretation don’t always get the interpretation, etc., but tongues is, well,
different. Paul puts the gift into
perspective here by elevating the other gifts.
Tongues, for whatever reason, has always been a problem in many
places. It sometimes becomes the
“must-have” gift to validate someone as possessing the Spirit and yet Paul says
the gifts that edify the church are more valuable to the kingdom. Moses started with some signs to validate him
to others but moved on from those “tricks” to speaking to the people for the
Lord. In all things let us seek to edify
others rather than self.
Oh, how abundant is
your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.
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