Tag Archives: the book of Exodus

January 18
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“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”  (Exodus 1:8, KJV)

These 13 words describe how easily life can be transformed from mountaintop to valley; from “can do no wrong” to “can do nothing right”; from the big house to the dog house.

We do well to remain mindful of how quickly the externals of our life can change; and to grasp lightly our health, wealth, and personal relationships.  Egypt — although gracious and hospitable for a time — was not God’s destination for the Children of Israel; a much better land awaited them.  The “new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph” was the catalyst for the beginning of the next phase of God’s plan for the Israelites.

Changes await all of us, and some changes may not be welcome changes.  Fear not.  A change in circumstance provides the “elbow room” in our lives for the growth that is to come.

God did not desert the Children of Israel, even in their distress; and God will not desert the disciples of Jesus.  As we are reminded in Romans 8: Nothing shall separate us from the love of God!  – Luther

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July 1
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“Moses said to the Lord, ‘O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant.  I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’  But Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'”  (Exodus 4:10-13, NIV)

To be available to God, in spite of our physical disabilities, our personal shortcomings, and our fears (as real as they may be) is what pleases God — and broadens our horizons.

Every day, we have before us the option to make ourselves (and all that we have at our disposal) available to God — or we can, like Moses, make excuses.

One lesson that we can learn from the exchange between Moses and God, as recorded in today’s scripture passage, is this: God doesn’t care as much about our ability as He does our availability.  – Luther

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May 7
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Mothers’ Day

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”  (Exodus 20: 12, NIV)

I recall a lecture by Rabbi Sheftel M. Neuberger, who is based in Baltimore, Maryland, but is known throughout the world as a Hebrew scholar and teacher.  The topic was the Torah, which is commonly known as “The Law of Moses,” and is sometimes a specific reference to the Ten Commandments given Moses by God for the Children of Israel.

The Ten Commandments were given on two tablets of stone: The first five commandments address the relationship between God and man, and the remaining five commandments address the relationship between humans.  Today’s scripture reference is the fifth commandment, and addresses the relationship between a child and his/her parents.  So, why is it on the “God to man relationship” tablet and not the “human to human relationship” tablet?

The Hebrew sages, according to Rabbi Neuberger, said that it is in the “God to man” set because in the procreation of a child, there are three essential participants: The mother; the father; and God.  As scripture declares from the Psalms (in a different context, but applicable nonetheless): “It is God that made us, and not we ourselves.”  The same may be said of the necessity of one’s mother (and father): We did not create ourselves.  We shall forever bear both the visible and invisible characteristics of our parentage.

Mothers’ Day in the U. S. A., the U. K., and Australia hasn’t been around nearly as long as the Torah, but we all do well to set aside a day to honor our respective mother (if  she is still living); and the memory of our mother (if she has died).  Doing so not only honors her, but our God, as well.  – Luther

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