One of the first missionary families.

Once again, this whole reading through the Bible chronologically this year has been great. No matter how many times a person has read the Bible or how well they think they know the stories, it is always possible to glean something new.  God's Word is alive and active!

As I was reading through the story of Moses' call to return to Egypt and deliver the Israelites from the hand of Pharoah, I was struck anew by some points. I don't know why, but I have had it in my mind that Moses went alone before meeting up with Aaron. However, the Word actually tells that his wife and children went with him. For Moses, in many ways, it was like going home, though tension was expected because of how he had left. For his wife and children, though, it was a whole new unfamiliar world.

Aaron coming to meet them was likely comforting for Moses but uncomfortable for his wife. Thankfully though she had someone she knew and someone who would be on their side.  But what was life like for Zipporah?

Was she at home all day? Did she have any friends? How did she encourage Moses when he came home at the end of the day after a bad encounter with Pharoah? Was she able to set aside her own loneliness to encourage him to keep doing what God had commanded? As Pharoah put more pressure on the people and the people resented Moses even coming, did she struggle more with any relationships she did have? Was she bitter at any point and suggest that they leave? Did she create a haven for Moses to come to at night where he could truly rest?

Did Moses at any point think about throwing in the towel because of the toil it was taking on his family? Did he ever think of turning back with them, when he would have certainly stayed on his own? Did he ever wish they were not with him in the midst of the plagues?

How would I have reacted to everything if I had been Zipporah? Would I have been a sustaining force for my husband? Or would I have been an excuse for him to back out?  Wherever we are, am I being that support for my husband to continue the job that God has given him, to bring the message of deliverance to a people that are crying out to God and the message of pending judgement to those who do not fear God?

Unexpected!

We did lots of traveling in the month of January. One night as we were actually here in Shreveport, we were having dinner with some friends and another family. During the course of the evening, we were getting to know this other family and the connections that they have with out country. We shared funny moments as well as precious stories about the people where we live. They informed us that there is a woman from our country in our town. I had no reason to doubt this couple but also found the idea of people from our country living here completely surprising.

So the next day, I am anxious to find out if this is true. I went to the place that these new friends had told me about to find this woman. I walked in and hesitantly began to greet her in her language. She almost exploded with joy hugging me and chatting for quite a while. In that time, she told me that she was working at this place for a friend of hers. She also told me about a shop that her friend's husband has just down the street. We had a nice conversation but I still could hardly believe it.

So a little while later that afternoon, my husband and I went to go find the little shop. My husband and the man talked in both languages, though mostly English as the man has been in the states for about 20 years. We chatted a bit more and ended with talking about getting together some time.

Surprise! Two days later the man called and invited us over for dinner with his family. We gladly accepted. The man and his wife were to greet us into their home. Their son was there and invited our children to watch TV with him. The wife was dressed in clothing from our country. The food was authentic. The juice they had to drink was authentic. If it had not been for the English mixed into the conversation, I would have had to remind myself where I was, because the feeling was so familiar.

We had a wonderful evening of food and conversation. We will look forward to getting back together with this family in the next few months.  A very unexpected surprise!

No pride or jealousy?

As I said, I have been reading through the Bible in a year chronologically. I am currently in Exodus. Recently Moses came down from the mountain with the tablets on which the Ten
Commandments were written and threw them down at the sight of the people worshipping a golden calf.

Before going up the mountain, the people promised to adhere to all that Moses had passed on to them from God. Moses went to the mountain for about a month and a half. In that time, the people grew weary of Moses being gone and begged Aaron to make an idol for them to worship. Aaron told him to bring their gold to him, which they melted down and then fashioned a calf out of the god to be worshipped. When Moses came down, Aaron seems to be saying that the calf just jumped out of the gold on its own.

Meanwhile, on the mountain, God is giving instructions to Moses for how the tabernacle is to be constructed and how the priests, of whom Aaron was to be the first, were to be dressed.

Really? Moses is there with God. He is so tight with God that God makes a way for Moses to see part of Him. Meanwhile, the one who is supposed to be the high priest is down with the people making an idol for them to worship. However, God is giving Moses all the details for a magnificent robe for Aaron to wear as high priest. Really? The irony jumped out at me me as I read this passage again.

As Moses, I would protest that Aaron was unworthy to have such a title and such a fine robe. However, Moses does not appear to do that. He clearly brought righteous indignation down the mountain, but he does not appear to argue with God about the choice of Aaron and who may or may not deserve to wear such a robe. He did call out to those who would be on the the Lord's side, which brought forth the Levites. He did instruct them to kill those who were worshipping the idol, which numbered about 3000 men. However, Aaron continued to live and would be adorned with that beautiful robe.

I struggle with that idea. What about Moses? He gets no fancy robe. He and God are tight. Aaron is enabling, even encouraging, the people to worship an idol. This is all just wrong.

Then again, maybe that is why I needed to read this story again. Moses was satisfied in God's presence. Of course, Moses also fasted 40 days and nights, which may have been necessary to remove his pride too. Maybe that fasting was the key to his response to God's directions.

How often do I let my pride get in the way of what God wants to do? What is is that I need to do to let God lead me?

No Vindication!

So I have been reading through the Bible chronologically this year. I get a little behind now and then, but over all I am staying up on it.  A couple of weeks ago I was struck again by the story of Joseph.

Let's do a short recap of the early part of the story before my aha! moment.
Joseph is born one of twelve sons to his father.  He is the first son of his mother, who His father loved more than the other wives. His father trusts in him. He has dreams that his brothers and parents will bow down to him. His brothers are angered and plot to kill him. One brother intervenes and says to just put him in a pit, planning later to rescue his brother. However, the brothers eventually sell Joseph to some merchants passing by their way. As a slave, Joseph serves in the house of Potiphar, a rich man in Egypt. Potiphar trusts Joseph with everything in his home. Potiphar's wife, the one thing not available to Joseph, lusts after Joseph and attempts to lure him into bed with her. After a couple of tries, Joseph flees from her, leaving behind his coat to which she was clutching. She accuses him of trying to attack her, and Potiphar throws Joseph in jail, where he is forgotten about for some time.  Eventually Joseph is able to interpret dreams for Pharoah's servants and is eventually brought out to interpret the Pharoah's dreams.

Joseph however was never vindicated. There was no visit, as far as we know, from Potiphar saying he knew that Joseph was innocent. There is nothing stated to show that Joseph's name was cleared.

I don't know about anyone else, but I struggle with this. If someone thinks I have done wrong, I am adamant about clearing my name. I do not even want there to be the slightest misunderstanding. I want my innocence to be clear. I will harp on it and stay awake at night if I think someone is mad at me because of a misunderstanding. I will kick and scream figuratively speaking until I am vindicated. But Joseph does not do that, so far as we know. He may have tried to speak up, but it does not appear that he harped on it for years as I would have. Maybe that is a lesson for me. Maybe it is my pride, or maybe my insecurity, that keeps me from letting things like that go. Either way, I need to learn to stand my ground when I have done right and let God handle the rest, rather than dwelling on it.

Now that does not mean that I do not try to address a misunderstanding? No! If I have done something without all the facts and offended someone, I can still go apologize. I just do not need to wait around and lose sleep until my name is cleared, because that may never happen.

Joseph was satisfied with being right in the eyes of The Lord, and so should I.