It’s the early nineties, and I’m sitting in the front row staring at the Sunday school felt board. (Does anyone else remember those?) I’m not sure if the other kids can see around my puffy pigtails, but in that moment, I don’t really care. The teacher booms out in her best Moses voice, “Let my people go!” And all of us kids, playing the part of Pharaoh, shout, “NO!”
At the time, I thought of Moses and Aaron as these powerful guys with booming voices and a magical stick who eventually wear Pharoah down so he sets the Israelites free. But today, as I meditate on our reading in Exodus 7, I’m able to get a little clearer on the details.
It turns out Moses and Aaron were pretty regular guys. They came from a long line of people you’ve probably never heard of (Exodus 6:14–25). Nothing about them or their family would hint at God assigning them to take on this massive task. Not to mention, the fact that these guys were not young birds (Exodus 7:7). On the contrary, they were already in their eighties when God told Moses to deliver the Israelites.
And don’t get me started on Moses. The booming voice from Sunday School? Probably not biblically accurate. In fact, Moses told God, “Since I am such a poor speaker, how will Pharaoh listen to me?” (Exodus 6:30). Moses struggled with his own weakness. He didn’t believe God could use him because he was a terrible speaker, thus, why God allowed Aaron to be a part of the plan.
They knew their mission wouldn’t be easy and over and over, Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened. But the fact that the task seemed impossible made it clear that only God could accomplish it. In Exodus 7, we see God give Aaron and Moses the command of what to say, “Let my people go” (Exodus 7:16). And so begins the story we’ve come to know so well.
Once the plagues begin, Moses and Aaron are simply conduits of God moving on behalf of His people. The Israelites had been enslaved and without hope for so long. Now, God had chosen two unlikely men to lead them to freedom.
Today’s reading reminds us that God doesn’t need superheroes or perfect people to carry out His will. In fact, He has often chosen the weak, the foolish, the rejected, and the unpopular to accomplish His purposes. He just wants us to be willing to trust and follow Him.
It’s those of us who are weak that need a mighty hand. So trust Him today, follow His commands, and see how He can use you.
To have no water for 7 days is such a biggest inconvenience and what a dreadful suffering. How would one cook, clean, drink? How would families with young babies and toddlers manage? Little humans constantly need water for changing nappies, food and snack which requires washing to prepare, drinking water, baths/showers/potty times. Oh boy, I could not imagine the pain of Egyptian families, especially Egyptian mothers. All because of the hardened heart of one leader. The Bible says if you suffer because you do wrong, it is fair, it serves you right. And if you suffer for doing good, only then, God is pleased and can step in to intervene. So the suffering of the Egyptian families, that weren’t mentioned at all during this 7-day blood plague, I wonder if they were ever be compensated? I saw them as hidden victims of Pharaoh’s hardened heart. Please know it really matters who your president or prime minister is. Please know it could mean life or death for you and your families (as we progress to further plagues in this book). Wicked leaders reap judgments on the land. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan (Proverbs 29:2). May we vote with discernment and wisdom for the nations’ leaders. May we cry out for God’s mercies so the righteous leaders will be elected, who have softened hearts and fear God greatly. May we judge their fruit to know the tree. Lemon trees will never yield tomatoes. Be blessed dear sisters.
Anyone else feel like we started the day reading Numbers? Heeheehee! Have a blessed day, sweet She’s.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong – 1 Corinthians 1:27 ❤️
I’m trying very hard to linger in these passages and ponder what each character might be feeling at the time. We know how the book of Exodus ends but I want to savor every moment of God rescuing His people. I want to cringe when I think of hardened hearts. I want to encourage Moses when he stutters. I want to support Aaron though he stands in the shadow of his brother. I want to envision all the years of suffering, oppression and cruelty that the Israelites endured. I want to reassure them that God will deliver them out of Egypt and into the land He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. By sitting in these passages as they come perhaps I will see my own circumstances in the light of God’s love and power. Perhaps I will see waiting as a gift. Perhaps I will be more eager to move when God says go.
You are welcome to sit with me, pondering and trusting the ways of our God.
I also noticed that Moses and Aaron’s parents were related.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands.
I pray that through God’s help, I can keep His commands. I know that I will fail, but that He will always love me and I will keep trying.
I’m thankful for Abby’s reminder about how “God doesn’t need superheroes or perfect people to carry out His will” but instead “He just wants us to be willing to trust and follow Him.” This brings to mind the old hymn “Trust and Obey”. As I prepare for camp and the Baptist girls weekend, I wonder if “Am I doing the right thing? Am I too old to be doing this?” But then I read devotions like todays or hear something on my Christian radio station that reminds me that I’m doing God’s and Christ’s work and if they thought I could handle it they wouldn’t send me.
Be blessed and realize you are “a superhero” to God sisters.
Oops sons of Jacob**
In today’s readings, I’m struck by a few things:
1) that Moses and Aaron’s parents are relatives (probably not so big of a deal in that culture, but my western mind has a hard time understanding it),
2) we’re given a list of genealogy, looking at the next generation after the 12 sons of Isaac. I usually gloss over those lists, but the name Korah stood out to me…the story of korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16 comes to mind. It’s like we’re getting the setup to that story here. It comforts me that my family is not the only dysfunctional one out there!
3) Pharaoh’s magicians were able to replicate the staff to snake miracle and blood plague. Evil/Satan has power, too. Yikes.
4) Moses is still on his bent that he’s incapable of speaking. God doesn’t just say, “well forget you Moses, I’ll use Aaron instead”. He uses BOTH of them. God works with us in our weakness – our transformation is important to Him.
5) Moses and Aaron are Levites. Not ancestors of Jesus, but incredibly important to the story of the Jewish people/pointing to Jesus.
Praying for the requests shared today!