Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: Moses

  • Devotional of the week: The God Who Travels (2 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Moses pleading with Israel, illustration from a Bible card published 1907 by the Providence Lithograph Company.
    Moses Pleading with Israel, illustration from a Bible card published 1907 by the Providence Lithograph Company.

    Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will crossover ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:1–8

    Some years ago, my daughter woke up complaining that her legs hurt and that she couldn’t walk. Witnessing her crawling around, fighting pain, struck fear in my heart. As it turns out, she had a common childhood ailment – irritable hip – that sorted itself out within a fortnight. My momentary fears that she would never walk again were thankfully unfounded.

    But some of us do have children (or friends or family) who are paralyzed. Living in a fallen world, we face sickness and hardships, just as the Israelites met challenges as they entered Canaan – the land promised to Abram, as we read yesterday. Moses knows they fear what lies ahead, and seeks in his farewell address to calm their anxiety. Mainly he assures them that the Lord goes with them, and will never leave nor forsake them. Twice he tells him not to fear; twice he says to be strong and courageous. And not in their own strength, but because the Lord is with them.

    Moses’ faith has been sharpened and strengthened over many decades, from his own wandering in exile after killing the Egyptian to witnessing God’s plagues against Pharaoh and their subsequent miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. He has grown from one who stammered and used his brother as his mouthpiece to a leader of mammoth stature. He has learned that with God he need not fear.

    I don’t know what you’re facing today or this week; it might be a draining situation at work where you feel maligned and misunderstood. Or you weep for a child who has seemingly rejected God. Or you struggle with your marriage, or that you’re not married. Whatever faces you today, may you hear the words of centuries ago: Be not afraid nor discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you.

    Prayer: Triune God, you travel with me throughout each day. May I know that you are before and behind me, on my right and on my left.

  • Devotional of the week: A change of heart (2 in Pilgrim series)

    "David Roberts The approach to Mount Sinai" by David Roberts - Bonhams. (Public domain)
    “The approach to Mount Sinai” by David Roberts – Bonhams. (Public domain)

    Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.” But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.” So they set out from the mountain of the Lord… (Numbers 10:29–32)

    Hobab was Moses’ brother-in-law, tied through marriage. Moses appeals to him to join them as the Israelites leave Mount Siani for Canaan. Hobab first says no, for he wants to return to his people. But Moses pleads with him, knowing he’ll be an asset in the wilderness. The biblical account doesn’t tell us what made Hobab change his mind and join Moses. Was it a conviction from God that this was the right way forward? Pity or compassion for Moses? A puffed-up desire to be a hero?

    We don’t know. It could be a combination of the above, for we often have mixed reasons in undertaking new ventures. And even though our hearts may not be clean and pure, God still uses us. He changes our sometimes divided heart, cleansing the black and gunge and making us clean.

    When I’m out walking in the park by our home in north London, often I’m in my own world. One day, however, I heard another American accent. After walking past I felt the nudge to talk to her, but I resisted. As I continued my circuit the feeling remained. Finally I struck up a conversation and learned that the woman was newly transplanted, having come from Iowa, the state right next to my native Minnesota, and had been feeling lonely and disconnected. Our conversation brought her encouragement, and I was grateful that I had heeded God’s nudge to reach outside my comfort zone and share his love.

    On a much larger scale, Hobab changed his plans radically as he said yes to Moses. Moses was then able to follow God in the wilderness through the ark, complemented by Hobab’s hands-on experience. A good partnership resulted. As you reflect on Moses and Hobab, consider how God might want to mold you this day and this week. How might 2016 shape up as you hear and heed his voice?

    Prayer: Lord, make my heart my heart soft and help me heed your nudges. Amen.

  • Devotional of the week: Hebrews 11:20-31 (6 in series)

    Invisible One

     

    By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. (Hebrews 11:20-31)

    A stained-glass window from Galway Cathedral, depicting some of the unseen realm.
    A stained-glass window from Galway Cathedral, depicting some of the unseen realm.

    A couple of years ago I was praying with a friend, whose father died not long before. She told me how her sister and mother visited a medium and had “called up” her father. Being fairly new in her faith, my friend was unsure whether this was really her father or not.

    She and I spoke about the unseen realm, and how Satan uses his powers to make otherwise unexplainable things happen. I warned that things like mediums and horoscopes are his tool. Having edited a book about a woman who nearly committed suicide after being embroiled in the occult, I told my friend of the dark power of these tools, but also of our God’s ultimate victory. (And I know I’m being controversial in making such statements…)

    Our passage today reminds us of God’s power in the unseen realm. When God first called Moses to be his leader, Moses was reticent and fearful, saying that Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to him.  Over time, Moses’ faith was built strong and firm as he witnessed God’s faithfulness through plague after plague on the Egyptians, when Pharaoh wouldn’t let the Israelites go. Finally by the time of this tenth plague of the firstborn, Moses knew without a doubt that God was real, even though Moses couldn’t see him.

    I sometimes wonder why God had to send so many plagues, especially when he kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart time after time. Maybe it was partly to show Moses that he was faithful and in control. To hone Moses’ leadership skills and teach him to follow God so that he could in turn lead God’s people.

    My friend’s father loved Jesus, so one day she will be reunited with him in heaven. May she, like Moses, persevere because she sees the one who is invisible. And may our eyes be open to see his face this day.

     

    Have you come in contact with things of the occult? Consider how you can know when spiritual practices are from God or from the evil one.