Tag: Moses

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Hardened and softened

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Felicity Tai on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 4.

Some recipes call for softened butter. Others need butter that has been hardened in the freezer. It just depends.

Moses’ initial assignment is to go to Pharaoh, perform miracles, and tell him to release the Israelites from bondage. Then God tells Moses, “I will harden [Pharaoh’s] heart, so that he will not let the people go” (Exodus 4:21).

It’s not a big deal to harden someone’s heart. It doesn’t take divine power or authority. Push back comes naturally. That’s just the way we are. I don’t think I’m rebellious, but I don’t want someone telling me what to do.

When Jesus says, “Love your enemy,” “Pray for those who persecute you,” and “Forgive” over and over, my first reaction is, “Yeah, I’m not going to do that.” Isn’t that a hardened heart?

The real miracle is when God gets through and changes a heart. His promise to Ezekiel is, “I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Do you know what softens a heart? It’s when Jesus says, “You’re forgiven,” “I don’t condemn you,” or gives me yet another chance. That’s what grace does. It melts away our guilt, shame, and fear, opening us up to his love.

I think it’s interesting that God can use a hard heart or one that’s been thawed to accomplish his purposes.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 3 and 4.

Everyone needs a collection of excuses.

  • I didn’t know.
  • No one told me.
  • I forgot.
  • It wasn’t me.
  • It wasn’t my fault.
  • I didn’t get the message.
  • My phone was dead.
  • I thought it was at a different time.
  • Someone took it.
  • My dog ate it.
  • My mom didn’t wake me up.
  • Everyone else was doing it.

It’s fun to make a list of excuses you can use when you’ve messed up, forgot to do something, or don’t want to do something. Take a moment and add another twelve or so to my list. You’ll be more than equipped to handle anyone’s demands and expectations.

You’ve got to hand it to Moses. He’s got the guts to offer up excuses to the Almighty God.

“Who am I?” I’m don’t have the resume or experience to bring Israel out of Egypt.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be there with you.”

“What if they ask me your name? I don’t even know your name.”

“I am who I am.” Just call me, “I am.” (Yahweh)

“What if no one will believe me or listen to me?”

Just wait till your staff turns into a snake. Or you hand becomes leprous. They’ll believe you.

“I’m not eloquent.”

I know. I made you, complete with mouth, ears, and eyes. I know what you can do.

It’s kind of like a reverse interview. Moses is trying to convince God to not hire him. Too bad, Moses. I mean, “Congratulations! You’ve got the job!”

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

What if the answer to your prayer is…you?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 3.

In the song “Do Something” Matthew West sings

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you.”

After Moses removes his shoes in the presence of God who is speaking from the burning bush, the Lord says, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people…and I have come down to deliver them…Come, I will send you” (Exodus 3:7-10). It’s all good news until that last part. In response to the cries of his people, God is sending Moses.

When Moses asks, “Who, me?” God replies, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there, too” (Exodus 3:11,12).

It’s an easy trap to fall into. I’ll send my prayer requests to God and then sit back as he takes care of me, my situation, and my friends’ needs. I’ll ask, seek, and knock because I know he can do it, I know he cares, and I trust him. I’ll call on him in the day of trouble, he’ll deliver me, and I’ll glorify him.

Well, it turns out that I’m not in the bleachers but on the field. I’m the hands and feet of Jesus. He alleviates hunger, loneliness, conflict, despair and grief through the church. That means me and people just like me.

So when you feel that nudge to call, visit, give, apologize, invite, or write to someone, don’t think, “Who, me?” Just do it. Let God do his thing through you and with you.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Thanks for taking off your shoes

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 3.

One of my granddaughters recently challenged me, “Where are your socks?”

You see, she leaves her socks on when she takes off her shoes. She even sleeps in socks. I usually walk barefoot around the house.

There are some things best done in bare feet:

  • Walking on the beach
  • Yoga
  • Measuring your height
  • Swimming
  • Talking to God

When God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush he said, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). I don’t think they had socks back then, so I assume this left Moses in his bare feet.

Like me, you’re probably wondering why this is a thing. In Egypt, where Moses grew up, priests took off their sandals when they went into their temples. In eastern countries, worshipers take off their shoes before entering synagogues or mosques. It’s a symbolic way of acknowledging uncleanness or unworthiness in the presence of a deity.

Don’t you hit your shoe against the side of the car before you get in so you don’t get too much dirt or sand on the floor? Or imagine a parent saying, “Take off your shoes. I just mopped. Don’t track more dirt in here.”

Liturgical Christian worship usually begins with confession and absolution. Guess what? That’s just like taking off your sandals or knocking off some dirt before you step into a place of worship.

Lol. I want to go to a church someday where there’s a whole bunch of shoes lined up outside the doors.

Posted in Devotions, Lent, Ministry

2020 Lenten devotion #6 – Water into blood (part 1)

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Henry Be on Unsplash

“If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” (Exodus 4:9)

So Moses has to convince an entire nation, all of Israel, that he is to be their leader who will bring them out of slavery. Not an easy task.

No problem. God will give you a few tools, a few impressive feats to convince them. A staff that turns into a serpent. A hand that becomes leprous and then whole again. And water from the Nile that turns into blood. You got this Moses!

You had me at “staff into serpent.” You have that kind of power at your disposal? I’m all ears. When do we leave? What should I pack?

Well, maybe. How did he do that? Is this for real? In a world of lies, fake news and scams, who do you believe? Who’s telling the truth? Who should you listen to? We’ve got scripture, history and eyewitnesses to shape our faith. Israel had ancient legends, bedtime stories and desperate prayers. We still have our doubts. So did they.

One way or the other, God was going to deliver his people. It didn’t matter whether or not they believed. It didn’t matter if Moses had to pull out all of the tricks God gave him. These folks were not going to stay in Egypt. They were going home. And they would know that it was God who made all the travel arrangements.

Drops of blood on the ground where Jesus was flogged and where he was crucified testified to the power of God to save us. Travel arrangements, right? Because of that blood, we’ll get to go home, too.

Chances are you’ll pour out some water today and it will turn into coffee, tea, lemonade or soup. We take those things for granted, but it’s really amazing when you think about it. Maybe one of those things will remind you to recall the powerful things God has done and the travel arrangements he’s made for you for eternity!

Thanks for the tickets to go home, Lord. Amen.