Know God - day 6

Exodus 1, 2, 3

2:23 After a long time...the Isrealites groaned under their slavery...out of the slavery their cries for help rose up to God.

What does God say?
not much.  it seems like he was waiting for the Isrealites to say something before he jumped to action.  and jump he did.  he was on fire! literally. in a bush.  God heard the cries of the Isrealites, and remembered his convenant (do you really think he forgot???) and he was concerned about them. (v25).  And he did something about it.  so often we speak concern, but don't put feet to our concern. God did - immediately!

For us?
Pastor says the point of the story is when you finally, truly, desperately cry out to God, his help, hope and deliverance immediately begin. What do I finally, truly, desperately need to talk to God about?  I think if you go back and read some of the previous posts, you'll know.

God finally speaks - from a burning bush - and calls out a name.  I think if I was in the middle of the desert and a bush started burning, sure, I'd go check it out (and wish for some marshmallows to roast).  but if a voice called my name from it, you'd see only my dust. Or me in a heap on the ground.  What was Moses thinking?  A bush burst into flames, isn't being consumed and is talking to him. AND HE ANSWERED!!! "Here I am!"   Wonder what was in his water!   Then sometimes I wish God would talk to me loud and clear from something like a burning bush.

Does it make a difference when someone knows your name?  sometimes.  i am horrid with names, but i remember other details.  It annoys me when someone calls me by my name too often in a conversation - like a slimy salesman.  Sure you can know a bunch of folks names, but do you KNOW them? Do you know what makes them smile and cry? laugh? crave? disgust? fear?  I believe that is the level God knows us on. and he can call me by name anytime he wants...as long as it isn't Chrissy!

First thing, God tells Moses to take off his shoes, he's standing on holy ground.  Moses hid his face.  Pastor mentions that Moses was living 3:1'beyond the wilderness.'  Reminds me of teaching in Montana 'south of Jordan.'  Yet the UPS man found me with Granny's cookies.  If brown can find me on the gumbo in Montana, God can find whoever he wants whereever he wants.  Pastor states, "Nothing and no one is beyond God's concern. and when God shows up, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the insignificant becomes holy."  God wants us to stand on holy ground...what are His plans and significance he has for us?  That - I have no answers for.  And I am not known for my patience and willingness to wait.  But I believe that I am learning through this study and through the daily readings.  I am beginning to see God in a different light. on a different level.

God then tells Moses that he has come to deliver the Isrealites from the Egyptians.    this always makes me think of the Rich Mullins' song, My Deliverer.

Joseph took his wife and her child and they went to Africa 
To escape the rage of a deadly king 
There along the banks of the Nile, Jesus listened to the song 
That the captive children used to sing 
They were singing 

My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by

Through a dry and thirsty land, water from the Kenyon heights 
Pours itself out of Lake Sangra's broken heart 
There in the Sahara winds Jesus heard the whole world cry 
For the healing that would flow from His own scars 
The world was singing 

My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by 
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by 
He will never break His promise - He has written it upon the sky

There is more to the song, but you need to hear it to really appreciate it. (Maybe I need to put some music on here, do you think?) 

Pastor's question now is what's the most pressing thing that we need to be delivered from? I have to say my past. fear. stubbornness. myself. definitely myself. i am my own worst enemy, harshest critic and biggest roadblock (the word i was looking for left me) 

In verse 3:10, God tells Moses that he is going to send him to Pharaoh to bring his people out of bondange/slavery. I would have laughed at God. Not in a good way. Moses asks, "who am I that I should go to Pharaoh???? Moses killed a guy, fled the previous Pharaoh for his life and now God wants him to go to the new guy, hope HE didn't hear the story and ask for all his free labor to be let go. Just like that. Yep. Laughed, shook my head and walked away. that's what I would have done. Good thing I'm not Moses. but Moses loved the Isrealites in Egypt. He worshipped and trusted God. God was passionate about his people. their cries were breaking His heart. 

How is God calling us to bring even one person out of bondage? He isn't asking us to approach the Pharaoh or even the president and demand an entire people group be let go. Currently, my heart weighs heavily for people with albinism who are mistreated, abused, shunned just for having a genetic disorder that does not create pigment in thier skin. One small way I am helping is by sponsoring a child through Compassion International - specifically a child with albinism in one of the less understanding countries. I develop a relationship with this child (his name is Ibrahim) and get to let him know that he isn't alone. he isn't cursed. God does love him. hmmm...I'm seeing parallels to my Job post earlier today. 

hello again - it's pot. I just seem to keep showing up here. and God doesn't have a sense of humor or irony??? 

 Who is Moses supposed to tell the Israelites who sent him? I AM WHO I AM. that is huge. Can any of us say that? should any of us say that? we aren't who we are. we are who God created us to be. who he shapes us to be. we just aren't always very cooperative. What false priorities keep us from making the 'I am' our all? For me it is...family, work, house, stubborness, frustration, fear, anger, fatigue...and more I am sure.

Pastor ends by referring to 1:17 where the midwives feared God more than the king so they did not do as the king commanded.  He asks us to pray to have the courage to stand up against pressures in our corners of the world.