Numbers 11-14
And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. Numbers 14: 33 NRSV
This is the day of complaints. In fact, I recommend that, even if you aren't reading through the Bible, that you read Numbers 11-14 today. There you will see the complaints.
Complaints from the people against misfortunes.
Complaints from the people against having nothing but manna to eat - and no meat.
Complaints from Moses about the burden of all these "children" who complain against him.
Complaints from Moses that God expects him to get all the meat.
Complaints that two of the seventy who received the Spirit of the Lord were not in the assembly.
Complaints from Aaron and Miriam about Moses' wife and their own lack of power and influence.
Complaints from ten of the twelve spies sent to the promised land that the land was too fortified to take.
Complaints from the people that God had brought them here to die by the sword and their little ones become booty.
Complaints from God (!) that these people have continued to despise God despite all the wonders and miracles that God has done for them.
Take a moment today to list your complaints - perhaps in writing. Then take the same amount of time to list what wonders and miracles that God has done and continues to do for you. Follow this with a prayer to God, thanking God for all God is doing in your life and asking forgiveness for your complaints.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label Moses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moses. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
God's People
Yearly Reading: Exodus 31-34
"For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth." Exodus 33: 16 NRSV
Moses has a good point.
God has gotten mad because while Moses is given instructions and details of how the people are to behave, the people are at the foot of the mountain partying and worshipping and idol. God is threatens first to kill everyone, then backs off and just announces that God will no longer be with the people. I can really see how God was right to be extremely angry.
But Moses is also in the right in speaking with God. Moses is doing his best to get God to cool off and think with logic and compassion. Moses is reminding God that these people need God's presence so that they can truly be different from all other people.
How shall we be distinct from everyone else if you refuse to be with us? Moses asks.
Makes me wonder how, knowing that God is with me, I am distinct from everyone else. Can anyone tell that I have found favor in God's sight? Or am I just like everyone else?
What about you?
God, we know you are with us. But can other people see this as well? Help us, Lord, help us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
"For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth." Exodus 33: 16 NRSV
Moses has a good point.
God has gotten mad because while Moses is given instructions and details of how the people are to behave, the people are at the foot of the mountain partying and worshipping and idol. God is threatens first to kill everyone, then backs off and just announces that God will no longer be with the people. I can really see how God was right to be extremely angry.
But Moses is also in the right in speaking with God. Moses is doing his best to get God to cool off and think with logic and compassion. Moses is reminding God that these people need God's presence so that they can truly be different from all other people.
How shall we be distinct from everyone else if you refuse to be with us? Moses asks.
Makes me wonder how, knowing that God is with me, I am distinct from everyone else. Can anyone tell that I have found favor in God's sight? Or am I just like everyone else?
What about you?
God, we know you are with us. But can other people see this as well? Help us, Lord, help us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Broken Spirit
Yearly Reading: Exodus 3-6
Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery. Exodus 6: 9 NRSV
It won't matter how eloquent the preacher if the members of the congregation suffer from a broken spirit and cruel slavery. I can receive all power from above in these devotionals but if you are deep in depression and treated as less than dirt in your job, you won't be able to take in any of these words. If you are completely crushed and struggling to find work, it won't matter how inspired your best friend tries to be; you won't hear him.
Exhortation cannot break through when we are in a funk such as that.
Thank God that God continues to act, enable and be even when we are incapable of receiving and believing.
God, keep on carrying out your will in the world around us. We may be unable to react and receive right now, but we need you more than ever! In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery. Exodus 6: 9 NRSV
It won't matter how eloquent the preacher if the members of the congregation suffer from a broken spirit and cruel slavery. I can receive all power from above in these devotionals but if you are deep in depression and treated as less than dirt in your job, you won't be able to take in any of these words. If you are completely crushed and struggling to find work, it won't matter how inspired your best friend tries to be; you won't hear him.
Exhortation cannot break through when we are in a funk such as that.
Thank God that God continues to act, enable and be even when we are incapable of receiving and believing.
God, keep on carrying out your will in the world around us. We may be unable to react and receive right now, but we need you more than ever! In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A History of Violence
Yearly Reading: Genesis 49- Exodus 2
The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the groughs to water their father's flock. But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense, and watered their flock. Exodus 2: 16-17 NRSV
Moses had a history of violence. He killed the Egyptian that was beating a Hebrew. He tried to break up a fight among his fellow Hebrews. His act of murder was well known - by Hebrews and by Pharoah. So, he is forced to flee.
Now Moses uses his fighting skills as a means for justice: the seven Midianite women have drawn water for their animals but the male shepherds have driven them away, no doubt to use that same water for their own flocks. Moses drives them away and waters the Midianite flocks.
Although violence can have incredibly negative consequences, in this instance God uses even the worst traits of a person for a good outcome. In coming to the defense of the women, Moses has found a home in which he will gain knowledge that will help him lead and govern his people.
God, we too have shortcomings and negative traits. Please help us to either overcome these or to use them for your glory and purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the groughs to water their father's flock. But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense, and watered their flock. Exodus 2: 16-17 NRSV
Moses had a history of violence. He killed the Egyptian that was beating a Hebrew. He tried to break up a fight among his fellow Hebrews. His act of murder was well known - by Hebrews and by Pharoah. So, he is forced to flee.
Now Moses uses his fighting skills as a means for justice: the seven Midianite women have drawn water for their animals but the male shepherds have driven them away, no doubt to use that same water for their own flocks. Moses drives them away and waters the Midianite flocks.
Although violence can have incredibly negative consequences, in this instance God uses even the worst traits of a person for a good outcome. In coming to the defense of the women, Moses has found a home in which he will gain knowledge that will help him lead and govern his people.
God, we too have shortcomings and negative traits. Please help us to either overcome these or to use them for your glory and purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Friday, December 11, 2009
She went with haste
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1: 39-40 NRSV
Mary has accepted God's word. The angel has just departed from Mary. Yet, here we have a detail that is hard to follow after Mary's faithful response. Mary sets out and goes with haste to a Judean town in the hill country. Mary is from Nazareth. She leaves her hometown in a big hurry. Are her parents aware of her pregnancy or does God somehow orchestrate this visit? This must have been very unusual. The tradition at that time is that the fiance is waiting for the spouse-to-be to finish adding a room to his father's house. The wedding can happen at any time. Yet Mary takes off in a big hurry.
She goes to an unnamed town in the Judean hill country - which is at least 50 miles from Nazareth. This was the area around and near Jerusalem where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. I think if it had been someplace like Bethlehem there would have been some mention here.
Mary, like Elizabeth, is keeping her pregnancy a secret. But the stakes of being found pregnant are much more deadly for Mary than they ever were for Elizabeth. Mary could easily have been stoned to death according to Jewish law.
Perhaps both women thought of Moses' mother who hid her son from Pharaoh and his soldiers before leaving him in a basket on the Nile.
Is doing God's will mean keeping some things secret until they come to fruition?
God, what do I need to keep secret? In Jesus' name. Amen
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
Mary has accepted God's word. The angel has just departed from Mary. Yet, here we have a detail that is hard to follow after Mary's faithful response. Mary sets out and goes with haste to a Judean town in the hill country. Mary is from Nazareth. She leaves her hometown in a big hurry. Are her parents aware of her pregnancy or does God somehow orchestrate this visit? This must have been very unusual. The tradition at that time is that the fiance is waiting for the spouse-to-be to finish adding a room to his father's house. The wedding can happen at any time. Yet Mary takes off in a big hurry.
She goes to an unnamed town in the Judean hill country - which is at least 50 miles from Nazareth. This was the area around and near Jerusalem where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. I think if it had been someplace like Bethlehem there would have been some mention here.
Mary, like Elizabeth, is keeping her pregnancy a secret. But the stakes of being found pregnant are much more deadly for Mary than they ever were for Elizabeth. Mary could easily have been stoned to death according to Jewish law.
Perhaps both women thought of Moses' mother who hid her son from Pharaoh and his soldiers before leaving him in a basket on the Nile.
Is doing God's will mean keeping some things secret until they come to fruition?
God, what do I need to keep secret? In Jesus' name. Amen
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)