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john_king@wycliffe.ca
Dear Kannika, it was certainly a delight for me to be able to spend time with you last week. I wish my Thai comprehension was greater so that we could communicate more strongly. But your presence at that leaders training was important. I hope that you are encouraged both from the fellowship with that unique group and also with a few skills to make your own life more effective.
These greetings come from Imphal in India, which is beside the western border of Myanmar. Equipping some saints here, in a workshop similar to yours last week, is keeping me occupied.
In case you may be interested here is a bit of study I’ve been contemplating about Moses. (I distribute a homily like this every week. If you’d like to receive them, just send me a note of request.)
Recently I’ve been tracking his progression in confidence through his life steps from the ‘burning bush’ to the battle with the Amalekites. Moses is usually credited as the leader for the exodus, BUT he had a personal journey in confidence to be a leader. His journey has been an inspiration for me. His Creator took him through a major process of learning, pushing and extending:
· At the burning bush the LORD identified Moses for a role … but Moses rejected the idea. (Ex 3)
· Jehovah angrily appointed Aaron to temporarily assist him in the new role … Moses was happy to let Aaron do it. (Ex 4)
· For the first three plagues Jehovah spoke to Moses, Moses spoke to Aaron and Aaron spoke to Pharaoh. (Ex 7)
· Aaron then took Moses’ staff and started the plague.
But slowly Moses began to gain confidence.
· For plagues four to six Jehovah spoke to Moses, Moses spoke to Aaron and both did the miracle. (Ex 8)
· For plagues seven to nine the LORD spoke to Moses, Moses spoke to Pharaoh and then took his own staff and did the miracle. (Jehovah didn’t need Moses or Aaron for the tenth plague.)
As they left Egypt, the LORD directed Moses into a cul-de-sac to entice Egypt to attack.
· Moses cried out and Jehovah’s response is fascinating: “Why are you crying out to Me?” (Ex 14) By this point, the LORD expected Moses to take the initiative and do something on his own. Moses confidence was growing and he could have replicated any previous plague but he wasn’t ready to write the script yet. So the Lord told him to take his staff, something he was accustomed to using, and stretch it over the Red Sea.
After the Red Sea event, Moses finally began to realize and admit that he was the leader. It wasn’t Aaron, nor was it his staff. His next big test came in the form of the bullying Amalekites. He knew that Israel was not supposed to be defeated by them. (Ex 17) He also knew that the people did not know how to do war. This time, with a bit more confidence, he took responsibility to do war. He didn’t fight down below, but stood on a hill to direct the battle. He didn’t use his staff, and Aaron’s only role was to hold his hand. He had no instructions to do that. Moses initiated it on his own. When it was over, Jehovah affirmed him by telling him to write the record down. He wanted Joshua to recognize it because he would do something similar later on.
Moses personal journey is a fabulous illustration of how our Father pushes us to extend Biblical principles into new applications. Learning His principles, and extending them into new situations is an important concept in realizing His direction. Too often we want specific instructions on what to do. When our Father is silent we think He is not listening. We are uncomfortable extending processes that are not verified. Yet, to step up to our calling we must extend principles. Upholding principles is important but applying them into the slot in history that He has placed you, is more important. We need to realize that we can move away from set formulas and established patterns, to institute new applications.
A Blessing you can claim for being used by Jehovah
May you be blessed with delight in evidence that Jehovah is hearing and listening and responding to you.
(I cried, and He heard my voice from His temple; my cry came into His ears. II Samuel 22:7)
May you be blessed with Jehovah oriented springs of life. … john (Proverb 4:23)