Today’s Devotional Theme
Moses and Jesus
Daily Scripture
Exodus 33:3-4, 34:9
“‘Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, [but] I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.’ And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments… Then he [Moses] said, ‘If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.’”
Encouragement
Moses is one of the Old Testament personages I most admire. God gives him a well-nigh impossible life’s work of leading His chosen people out of bondage in Egypt and into the land God set aside for His people to reside in. In chapter 4 of Exodus, Moses remonstrates with God that he isn’t the man to carry out such a Herculean task. “Please send someone else, send my brother Aaron instead,” protests Moses in Exodus 4:10-14, thus wearing thin God’s patience with him. However, God agrees to send Aaron with him as his right-hand man, and after many devastating signs and wonders God works against Pharaoh, the Egyptian king releases God’s people to begin the journey across the Red Sea and through the desert toward their new home. Moses foresees that it will be an exceedingly difficult and perilous journey. For example, he tries to perform without help all the functions of leading thousands of recalcitrant mixed multitude, including putting up with their protests and resolving all disputes great and small. In Exodus chapter 18, God sends to Moses his father-in-law Jethro, who prevails on him to appoint leaders to mediate all but the most difficult disputes. The possession of Canaan-land is finally accomplished, only because God works many miracles in their midst including a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night to protect the people and facilitate the great journey.
Take Action!
The missions of Moses and the Son of God have some telling parallels. Both of their life callings involved unbelievably difficult assignments to better the lives of God’s people. Both protested against the work set before them; in Matthew 26:39, Jesus requests, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Both pray for sin-plagued people, Moses in Exodus 34:9; Jesus throughout His ministry on earth. Both die to accomplish their missions, Moses for disobeying God and Jesus for the sins of the people.
Come into His Presence
Our Father in heaven, we thank You for granting us new life through the work of Your Son and indirectly for Moses’ success in leading Your people to the promised land. We thank You for Your infinite mercy toward us while we’ve wallowed deep in sin. In Jesus’ name, amen.
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment