Monthly Archives: November 2011

God Teaches Moses Miracles (Ex 4: 1-17)

Posted on by

Bible Summary:

Moses asks God how he will prove to the Israelites that He appeared. God teaches Moses three miracles to convince them: turning his walking stick into a snake and back, making his hand diseased and then healthy again, and turning water into blood.

Moses still does not want to go and claims he is a poor speaker. God says he will help with the right words. Moses objects again and asks God to send someone else. God becomes angry and suggests Moses speak through his brother Aaron.  God also tells Moses not to worry since all the people that wanted to kill him in Egypt are dead. So, with father-in-law Jethro’s approval, Moses leaves for Egypt with his wife and sons.

My Thoughts:

Calling: We rarely feel worthy of a great calling. We believe God expects too much. But ask yourself this question: what will I to do that will give meaning to my existence for all the days that I have lived? God pushed Moses and now he is working on you in the form of this message.  Take the chance on your calling now.

Public Speaking: Like Moses, most people’s greatest fear is standing in front of a crowd to give a speech. It is hard at first, but like anything it gets easier with practice.

God Calls Moses (Ex 3)

Posted on by

Bible Summary:

One day while caring for sheep near Mount Sinai, Moses sees God in a flaming bush that is not consumed. God tells him to remove his sandals on this holy ground. Moses covers his face, afraid to look at God.

God tells Moses to rescue the Hebrews from the cruelty of Egyptian slavery and bring them to the land of their ancestors in Canaan. Moses asks how the king of Egypt will ever listen to him, he is nobody. God says He will be with Moses when he takes the Hebrew leaders to the king to request their release. God warns that the king will not free the Hebrews until He uses His power to punish the Egyptians. At that point the Egyptians will respect the Hebrews and give them the wealth of Egypt to carry away.

Moses asks God’s name and He answers, “I am.”

My Thoughts:

I AM: What else could God respond with than “I am”? How could He describe Himself to a human who does not have the capacity to understand the infinite? “I am” is the simplest answer that signifies God is all things, that He exists everywhere and in everything. He just is. But, it is more than that. “I am” means that God is there whether or not we can see Him or prove that He exists. “I am” also calls for belief and faith.

Meeting God: What would you do if you met God? Like the song I Can Only Imagine by Casting Crowns, would you dance or in awe be still, would you stand or fall to your knees, would you sing hallelujah or be able to speak at all? What would you ask him? What would he say?

Calling: Moses fled Egypt years before and is living a comfortable life when God appears and calls him to put his life on the line to help others. Moses asks how he could do such an incredible thing when he is just a “nobody”.

We all feel insignificant like Moses before God’s call, but every person, (yes, even you!) has potential to do great things. Don’t get caught up in everyday life and forget to truly live. Do something extraordinary, make a difference. Purpose gives so much more meaning to life that you are sure to live every day with joy.

So, find your calling. Pray. Talk to God. Listen to your inner voice. Look back at your life for those times when you were “in the zone”.  Times that gave you the most joy.  Look closely because that theme will lead you to your calling.

Moses Flees to Midian (Ex 2: 11-25)

Posted on by

Bible Summary:

Moses grows up and sees how his people, the Hebrews, are forced into hard labor. He watches an Egyptian kill one, so he kills the Egyptian. The next day he tries to resolve a Hebrew quarrel, but fears for his life after they mention the Egyptian’s death. The king of Egypt finds out and Moses flees to Midian for safety.

One day, Jethro’s seven daughters are driven away from a well by some shepherds. Moses rescues the daughters and waters their animals. The girls tell their father of the Egyptian’s heroics, so Jethro invites Moses to eat with them. Moses decides to stay, Jethro gives him Zipporah in marriage, and they have a son.

Years later the king of Egypt dies, but the Israelites still cry for God’s help, so He becomes concerned for the Hebrews.

My Thoughts:

Confidence: Moses likely lived in luxury after being adopted by the king’s daughter, but he knew he was Hebrew and resented how “his people” were treated. The story paradoxically paints him out as a coward who flees to Midian and a hero to the daughters.

There is a coward and a hero in all of us. The coward sits back and worries what might happen and fears the worst, while the hero finally takes the step. Even great people had fears, but finally, with God’s help, took that step. So, push, shove, or heave that fear out of the way and take that step! You will be amazed what happens.

Mother Teresa

Posted on by

Mother Teresa was a Catholic girl born in Albania who asked to be sent to India  to serve the poorest of the poor after her 18th birthday in 1928. She became a nun there and established the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta years later. As of her death in 1997, there were 610 missions in 123 countries (more in 133 countries now) that provide home for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, plus hospices services. They also help families with food, schooling, and counseling (See full Mother Teresa story at Wikipedia).

A woman under five-feet tall, Mother Teresa was a giant in making a positive difference in the world. She even won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Her secret to success was having a mission in life that no one, not even a Pope, could deter. I read a story once of how she pushed the Catholic Church over years into allowing her new order in Calcutta.

Why is Mother Teresa one of my favorite people? She showed that one person can make a tremendous difference in this world by having a great vision for people to rally around and a lifelong commitment to making it happen. She displayed unconditional love to people in the worst conditions of the world. She did not judge. She just pushed on and expected God to provide – and He did! Her selflessness moved the world’s morale needle in a positive direction over the periods of the Great Depression, World War II, and all the dramatic world events from the 1950s to the 1990s.

I could only hope to be one millionth of the goodness that she was. She was beatified as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in 2003 on her way to sainthood.

Learn more about Mother Teresa at the Mother Teresa Center.

Moses is Born (Ex 2: 1-10)

Posted on by

Bible Summary:

A man and woman from the Levi tribe have a son. After three months, she can no longer hide him from the king, so she places him in a watertight reed basket and sets him in tall grass by the river. The king’s daughter sees the basket, has a slave girl (the baby’s sister) get it, and is surprised to find a Hebrew baby boy inside. She has the slave girl find a woman (the baby’s mother) to nurse it. Later, when the baby is old enough, the king’s daughter adopts him and names him Moses.

My Thoughts:

Compassion: The king’s daughter felt sorry for the Hebrew boy, a boy from the lowest class of people, showed him compassion and saved his life.

With compassion, we can change the world. Crossing the invisible boundary between classes of people is just a “hello” and smile away.