Running away from snakes

As I continue through Exodus, a couple things about chapter 4 caught my attention. For now, I want to focus on the first thing. The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” The Lord said, “Throw it to the ground.” So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. (Exodus 4:2-3 NET). God has called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Moses wants a sign so that the people will believe him. God gives him a sign. Moses responds and then runs away. God surely had gotten Moses' attention by turning the staff into a snake. Wasn't Moses right to run away in fear? Aren't snakes scary? But Moses was running from the direct result of what God him to do. Should he really have run away? Or should his faith told him to stay?

Are you working on a "new you" in this new year? Has God laid on your heart changes He wants you to make in your life? Are you seeing results already? Do they make you afraid? If God has called you to make changes and you are seeing the results of those changes, fear not! God knows what He wants to do with your life. It is good. You can trust Him. Fear not! Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. (Psalm 139:16 NET)

I am reading through (and blogging as led) Exodus following the Good Morning Girls.

Take off your sandals

As I come to Exodus 3 and read the story of Moses at the burning bush, I am struck by God's first instruction to Moses. "God said, 'Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'" (Exodus 3:5 NET) God is telling Moses how to approach Him. Taking off your sandals was a sign of your dirtiness, your unworthiness, your sinfulness. I don't know about you, but I love a nice pair of sandals whether they be comfy or dressy. Sandals make me feel cute, free, and sexy. But take off my sandals and what am I? Just a sinful human being before a holy God. As I take off my sandals and confess my sinfulness, I am comforted. "But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NET)

I am reading through (and blogging as led) Exodus following the Good Morning Girls.

Compassion

While reading Exodus 2 this morning - the story of Moses being pulled out of the water and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter - I was struck by the compassion Pharaoh's daughter had. She must have been well aware of her father's hatred of the Hebrews and his attempts to kill the Hebrew baby boys and yet when the basket was pulled out of the water, she had compassion for the baby. The Hebrew word used here chamal means to spare, to pity, to have compassion on. It's a verb - not an adjective. She didn't just feel compassionate, she acted! This baby was supposed to die, but she spared him. Not only did she spare him, but she adopted him into her family and raised him as her own. Isn't that what God has done for us? Our sins bring us the penalty of death. But God, in His mercy and compassion, spares us. Not only does He spare us, but He also has adopted us into His family!

Do I have that kind of compassion? Honestly, I think I come up way short in regards to compassion. My prayer today is that God would grow that compassion in my heart. I pray that it would not just be something I feel, but something I do!

I'm reading Exodus as part of the Good Morning Girls reading through Exodus. Join in if you will.