Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Exodus 6:1-13 (NRSV)

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh: Indeed, by a mighty hand he will let them go; by a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land.”

God also spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name ’The LORD’ I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the Israelites, ’I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’” Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.” But Moses spoke to the LORD, “The Israelites have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?” Thus the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them orders regarding the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, charging them to free the Israelites from the land of Egypt.

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Reflect

As a basketball fan, one of my favorite moments in basketball history is when Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers scored 8 points in 9 seconds to win the game for his team. Indiana was down 6 points with just 10 seconds left in the game, and the fans had begun to leave the arena. Everyone had accepted that they were going to lose the game, and they were crushed because of it. Even Reggie’s own teammates had their spirits broken by this circumstance, but Reggie had other plans. He was going to find a way to win, no matter what it took. He then scored two 3-pointers and two free throws over the next 9 seconds to seal the win for the Pacers.

I think there is some insight into the nature of God to be found in both Reggie’s story and the scripture for today. The Israelites were also in a tough situation in Exodus 6. They were so downcast that they would not even listen to Moses telling them about God’s plan “because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.” However, God didn’t need the Israelites to listen in order for God to act. God found a way. Even Moses, God’s servant, doubted and asked God, “The Israelites have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me?” But God worked in spite of the doubt and brokenness of Moses and the Israelites to find a way.

When you doubt sometime today, just remember: God is like Reggie Miller. God will find a way.

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Pray

Almighty Redeemer, we know that sometimes our spirits get so crushed that we cannot even hear your promise to us, but we give you thanks that your love for us always finds a way. Help us to trust you and your will in our lives. Amen.

Go with God.