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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 4, 2005 Why Doesn’t The Story End Here? |
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FRONTLINE DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY JANUARY 4, 2005 By Fritz Foltz
Exodus
3: 1-12
This is one of the most important and interesting and revealing stories in the
Bible. God appears to Moses in the Burning Bush. Today’s passage goes on for
12 verses. The story should end at this point, but it goes on for nine more long
verses in this chapter and on into the next. One of the biggest questions of
religion is “How come? Why doesn’t the story end here?”
Moses is tending sheep on Mount Sinai. He notices a burning bush. He turns
aside to look and finds God. God speaks revealing he is the God of Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob, not the God of the Pharaoh. “I am the god of the Jewish
slaves not the god of the Egyptian masters. I have heard the cries of my people.
I know their sufferings". Scholars report that the word
"know" is very dynamic. It does not mean simply I am aware they
are suffering, but rather, “I am very involved in their sufferings. I share
their sufferings”. God discloses he has come to rescue his people and lead
them to prosperity in a new fruitful land of their own.. In order to do that, he
is sending Moses to speak on his behalf to the Pharaoh. Moses questions, “Why
me?” God replies,“ Don’t worry. I shall go with you so all will be
fine”.
Surely the story should end right here. God’s promise to provide should be
enough. But as we know the story goes on as Moses asks first for God’s proper
name for knowing someone’s name gives you some control of that person. God
gives a name that expresses people’s inability to control him. Moses then asks
for some power, and God gives three miracles. Moses objects that he is not a
speaker, so God assures him he shall supply the words. Moses finally gets to the
point, begging God to send someone else. Now God gets angry, promises to send
help in Moses’ brother Aaron, and tells Moses to get on with it.
We all know why the story does not end at verse 12. We have all heard God
declare “I have a job for you. You shall deliver my people from their
misery”. If we are sane, we are terrified. Then we hear clearly,
"Not to worry. I know your troubles. I share your sufferings. I shall
go with you. I shall be there when you need me". But we are fickle
and cowards. We object, asking for more and more, never satisfied with the
essential that God is with us, pretending that somehow religion is only about
how God helps us.
Obviously a good deal of the problem is God hears the cries and comes to rescue
the weak, those who need help. He asks us to help the weak and needy. And often
that means we go against the strong and powerful. We would rather let things
stand and ignore the cries of the weak and suffering. That is certainly what is
happening in our world at this time. Neither party addressed the needs of the
poor in the last election. Neither party is ready to do it now. In some sense,
the great disaster in Asia has finally awakened us to the great needs of the
poor in our world. Most of us have heard the cries of the suffering and want to
go forth acting in God’s name. Let us pray we shall come to truly know
the sufferings of God’s people and continue to go forth in his name to make
things right..
Let us pray: Father, open our eyes to the needy who cry out to you. Grant us the
sensitivity to hear and the courage to respond in your name. And give us more
faith that we might be satisfied with your promise to go with us. We pray in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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