Me & Moses

I'm getting to know Moses again as I delve into Exodus. I can't believe how much I can relate to him!! First, he's telling God that he isn't capable of speaking to Pharoah for Him due to being "slow of speech"...which is something I've said myself. I've told Dan many times: I'm not good at this ministry thing, my people skills are lousy, and I definitely don't have that "sweet" personality that I envision a church/school secretary SHOULD have. However, he reminds that there is no definite description of a church secretary anywhere that says she MUST have a naturally sunny disposition or even be outgoing and a people-person. It isn't about what WE can do - it is about what GOD can do through us. I guess God didn't let Moses off the hook either, He did give him Aaron his brother to help him though.

The next revelation I had was that this God who executed this perfect plan to get Israel out of Egypt is MY God too!! His timing was perfect, His execution of the plagues was relevant, and His purpose was for His own glory. He delivered His people in such an absolutely amazing way!

So, Moses now is leading these people out of Egypt - and by chapter 19 where I am today, they have complained about three or four times already about things!! Each time, God is patient & allows them to be delivered from their problem (Egyptians chasing them, no food, no water).

THEN comes the part in chapter 16 where God gives definite instructions how to gather the manna He has provided them - and TWICE it mentions how the people DID NOT FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!! What is probably the #1 gripe about my job: people who do NOT follow instructions or meet deadlines!!!! Moses got angry too (vs. 20)! Even God asked in vs. 28, "How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions?" But our longsuffering God helped them through it - again.

In chapter 18, Moses is overworking himself, trying to take it all on himself, doing ALL the work of dealing with the people's problems. Thankfully his wise father-in-law comes along & suggests he get some good help. I can understand this situation too. I wonder if Moses was like me & just wanted it done his way and done "right" - or if he was more like Dan who just does what needs to be done without considering that someone else could actually do it, if they knew it needed to be done?! In any case, they implement an orderly, structured plan of leadership - and it's all good. I remember when I first started working at the church how heavy the weight of the responsibility of what I had to do was - there is just SO MUCH to be done at the school & church, but slowly, one by one, I've pried my fingers off what I thought was something I HAD TO DO and HAD TO DO my way. Now here I sit, very happily content to let OTHERS deal with things as I sit at home two days a week and do what I need to do at home, which in turn makes me happier to go to work. BALANCE - everyone needs to find it! I think I've come a long way to doing that!!

So, anyway, enough about that - I just am so excited about what I am reading right now!! And one last thing - Andrew has somehow caught on to the idea of reading the Bible daily too (actually, he's done this in the past), and last night, he crawled into bed with his Bible, so I asked him what his plan was. He said he was going to read the book of JOB!??! I asked him, "WHY start with JOB?". And he said he figured that since he was struggling in school right now & having a hard time that he might learn some things from Job who also went through some great trials. I kind of wanted to chuckle - but I know Andrew is serious. I am so THANKFUL for my son's sweet, pure heart and his desire to do what is right (not that he is perfect by any means, but overall, he seems to have inherited his dad's sincerity to serve God and to be "good").

And lastly: what's for dinner tonight?? I haven't decided yet - but I'm thinking something pork chops-y (schnitzel??). We should all be able to have dinner as a family tonight - and I'm looking forward to it!