blogging through Bible study: Weeks 3 & 4

I failed to post week 3 so am combining it into this week. The last 2 weeks have covered Moses' murder of an Egyptian and subsequent his flight into the desert, where he settled and began a family, his encounter with God at the burning bush, and his reunion with his brother Aaron as he journeyed back to Egypt to carry out God's plan to deliver the Israelites.

The theme from last week's lesson, which focused mainly on Moses jumping ahead of God's plan and allowing his own idea of justice through violence to land him in a bad spot, was actually a very encouraging one. God is not defeated when fail. While we look back at Moses as a great leader and revere him almost to the point of losing sight of his humanity, he was a sinful creature - just as we are. He had a tendency to do the wrong thing - just as we do. And his rash act of murder -- even though motivated by compassion for his own people -- did not constitute the method or the timing God had in mind for the deliverance of Israel.

Nevertheless, God still carried out His perfect plan, and He still used Moses to do it. For me, this was a wonderful reminder of God's sovereignty in all things. When I make a big mess of something, His purpose is not thwarted. He doesn't have to hold a brainstorming session to figure out how to bail me out, or how to get the job done in spite of me. He knows the end from the beginning. He sees it all at once. I have only to trust Him. How humbling that my part is so small, yet from my perspective it still seems so daunting.

OK, on to this week, which centered around the well-known story of the burning bush and Moses' many reasons for why he shouldn't be the one to deliver Israel. Of course he finally obeys and heads back to Egypt to carry out God's orders. The theme here is obvious, but it is no less meaningful because of it. When God calls us to do something for Him, He equips us. Just as last week's lesson taught, God's plan will succeed in spite of us. He actually doesn't need us at all. That He chooses to use us to carry out any small task for Him is a privilege, a blessing, and chance for us as Christians to prove to ourselves, through our obedience, that we do belong to Him. In that light, the excuses we offer are pathetic and comical, just as the ones Moses offered were.

What a great study. I'm really enjoying it so far. It is fascinating to take Bible stories that are so familiar and really dissect them to see the ageless lessons God's word holds for His people.