October 10th

Exodus 4:1-6:12; Matthew 26:31-46; Proverbs 4:10-19

Today continues the theme from yesterday in a huge way. It doesn’t just show us Moses trying to back out from his God given task, it shows some of the disciples messing up as well.

I really struggled with one part of the Exodus reading, when it comes to the way that God speaks to Moses. On the one hand I looked at vv4-5 and thought that God must have spoken in really mighty and powerful ways. The stick turns into a snake and Moses runs a mile, then God says “pick it up” and Moses says “ok then” and does it. If you’ve run a mile from a snake and spent the last hour arguing with God, surely he would have made a bit of a protest when God tells him to pick the snake up. But no, God speaks in such a way that Moses fear is overcome in an instant and he grabs for the snake. But then why didn’t God just speak like that in the first place and save all this argument about whether Moses is up to the job or not.

God doesn’t force us to do anything. God’s greatest gift to us was his son and eternal life. But high up on the list of gifts is free will, we are not his puppets, we are loved individuals who can choose the path of our lives. So God isn’t going to force Moses to be his mouthpiece. But at the same time, when things are not looking good, the voice of God speaks with such power and love that we are left in no doubt that he is behind us and uplifting us. God doesn’t force Moses to speak but in that instant he empowers Moses to face one of his greatest fears and pick up a snake.

Then the disciples fall asleep on Jesus, when they are meant to be keeping watch. Notice the disciples involved. Peter (the rock, the main man) and the two sons of Zebedee (oh yeah, the ones who Mrs Z thinks deserve the place at Jesus right and left side in heaven). Key disciples and they can’t even manage to stay awake when Jesus life is in danger. God didn’t force them to stay awake but did empower them to go on to be amazing evangelists and bring many people in the early church to know the love of God.

If you weren’t convinced yesterday that God can  even use our failings then be sure today. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Peter, James, John and even us. And once we have accepted that he can use us, is he asking you to pick up a snake. If so, know that you have all the power of heaven behind you to do the things that may scare you most.