November 10, 2008 7:50 AM
Sam wrote:
YOu may have recalled my earlier blog about Aaron and HIS staff, rather than Moses and his. Last chapter, and now this one, God told MOSES to stretch HIS hand (not his borther, Aaron) in order to begin the plagues of hail and now locusts and darkness As a matter of a fact, after Moses and Aaron were directed by God to cast soot into the air, all of the following plagues were started by Moses doing something as God commanded HIM, not he and Aaron. Aaron seems to have now taken a second seat to his younger brother.
Moses semes to have now proven to God that he CAN speak 'quick of tongue' and hence does not need his brother to speak for him. Aaron has fallen into the role of a sidekick, rather than an equal of Moses. This reminded me of a movie that came out in July 2005, "SKY HIGH"---a fun movie about a super hero's high school. When the kids in the movie go to 'Sky High', they are assigned to be either a Hero, or a Sidekick, depending upon what power they can demonstrate. Hilariously funny way this is done, especially with the 'CAR!!!!!'. In our life, we can be either, depending upon what 'powers' we have been given by God. We are all very familiar with the passages that discuss talents given to each of us, and basically what the movie is about, is using these powers (talents) to ward off evil. In the movie, it was 'Royal Pain', in our lives, it is 'satan'.
The movie makes a point about powers being inherited, but not necessarily 'available' until a certain age (hence Sky High). I tend to think most of our powers are also inherited...inherited from God. It is a matter of time before these are made available to us as well. As a child, before understanding Christ, we didn't exhibit these powers. But once we have been baptized, these powers become more evident. Some of us, like the lead child actor in this movie, do not believe that we have certain powers. As a matter of a fact, a lot of us don't think we have ANY power (or if we do, we don't show it off, so to speak). The Bible states differently.....search out the Scriptures and find for yourself the listings of talents that our Hero has put at our disposal. Our 'royal pain', satan, needs to be stopped in his tracks. We sidekicks need to grow our powers given to us if we plan to defeat him.
Being a sidekick in the movie, meant not having the superpowers as demonstrated by some of the kids, but yet, having SOME powers that might be useful in life. I see us as being sidekicks. We have plenty of heroes in the Bible with superpowers: Daniel, Sampson, Jacob, Elijah, Elisha, Paul, and most certainly Jesus. That is not an all exhaustive list, but if you look at each one of these, you will see some type of super-human power which they demonstrated. There were, of course, plenty of sidekicks as well: Delilah, Sarah, Gehazi, early disciples....this list could go on and on, even up to us today. We don't necessarily possess superhuman powers--- Reply to this
November 10, 2008 8:13 AM
Sam wrote:
---we don't hear of many of us physically wrestling with an angel of God and winning. We don't defend ourselves from a thousand men with a jawbone from a donkey. We don't make axe heads float. We don't cure people of leprosy, deformities, dysentery and other diseases. BUT, we do have 'sidekick' powers. We can help people change their lives for the better. We can guide them toward seeking God and eventually they can also inherit the great Kingdom. We can love people who irritate us (although a lot of times we don't, we simply get angry). We can talk with God, who can THEN do those 'hero' things for which we ask. And remember, talking to God in prayer, if you have faith, can make mountains move. Maybe not physical mountains--that superhero feat is left to God, but other 'mountains' in our lives. The mountain of lust; the mountain of self-doubt; the mountain of shyness and laziness; the mountain of hate---all these, and more, can be moved out of our sidekick lives simply by having faith in God and asking for it.
Aaron was Moses' sidekick who played an important role in this 'superhero's' mission for God. He enabled Moses to learn, and use, his own 'super powers', even if it was just learning how to be brave and stop fearing Pharaoh. We can enable each other as well. I envision Moses like the quarterback, and Aaron a running back. Moses needed Aaron for some important plays, but when the big ones came, the quarterback superhero had to step in.
Roy Rogers had a sidekick. So did Sergeant Preston. And Quickdraw McGraw. And Batman. And the Green Hornet. And the Lone Ranger. And Lassie. And Superman. And Jesus---we are the oft unremembered sidekicks who have extremely important roles to play. "Hero Support" was the term used in Sky High....and what better term for us.....a supporter of our main Hero, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I challenge you not to waste your powers (talents) and sit idly by on the sidelines in this game of life, but to be part of the team, even if you are not the quarterback. Be a sidekick WITH a kick. Reply to this
November 10, 2008 8:38 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Great point about noticing the transition of Moses from the doubter who relied on Aaron to the confident leader. And good tie-in with the Sky High movie. Reply to this
November 10, 2008 8:34 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Verse 2 says: "that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD."
The LORD wanted to make an impact on the Israelites. He acted powerfully on their behalf to save them from their opressor and to ensure that they knew the LORD. And he expected the effect to last for generations to come. As we know, it didn't even last for that generation with the exception of a few. I am sure we will blog more on that as we read it.
So how has God worked powerfully in my life? And as Tony mentioned yesterday or the day before, it usually doesn't take much to send us into a tailspin. God has worked miracles to get us baptized and to keep us faithful. I hope we are cognizant of that - I think I will do some meditation on that today.
And along those lines, we started 2 or 3 weeks ago to post our conversion stories. I think I might have missed a couple?? Reply to this
November 10, 2008 12:05 PM
Sam wrote:
Ya didn't 'miss any'. No one has yet taken the time to write them out. Be patient, they (we) will as the Lord leads us.
Didja happen to catch 'my' challenge of yesterday? Reply to this
November 10, 2008 8:40 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Why do you guys think that Pharaoh didn't just kill Moses? Isn't that what typically happens. From the beginning, Moses makes demands of him. Any thoughts on this? Reply to this
So it is with Moses. The hand of God was about him, hence, even if Pharaoh had made an attempt, it would have quickly failed. I believe Pharaoh 'knew' that Moses was the messenger of someone very powerful, and was afraid (yes, afraid) of hurting him. During the 30's and 40's, Chicago and New York mobs were powerful organizations (probably are, but we don't hear so much about them anymore). Movies and newspapers articles have depicted how messengers would be sent from one mob to another with threats and 'promises of threats'. NORMALLY, those messengers were left unharmed, and usually carried back a message (if not the head of another mobster) to his head mobster. It was not their time to die...that would come later when 'war' broke out between the 'families'. Not being 'one's time', I think is the real reason these messengers, and Moses (who was God's messenger), were not harmed. Make sense? Reply to this
November 10, 2008 8:18 PM
Rich wrote:
In verse 3 God says: "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?" I wonder how often God says the same about people in this world. I wonder how often he says it about me. God wants all of us to be humble before him. Humble before God means that we acknowledge (in action not just in our heads or with our mouths) that we need God. What can I do without God? Really, what can I do on my own? I venture to say absolutely nothing. I just take for granted that I have eyes to read with, ears to hear with, a mouth to speak with, a brain, a wife, children, a job, a car, money in the bank, and on and on. The fact is, I take much for granted and I give little credit to God. God is worthy of so much more than I give to him.
I want to humble myself before God much more than I do. I want to live a life of humbling myself before God. I want to acknowledge my need for him everyday. How about you guys? Reply to this
YOu may have recalled my earlier blog about Aaron and HIS staff, rather than Moses and his. Last chapter, and now this one, God told MOSES to stretch HIS hand (not his borther, Aaron) in order to begin the plagues of hail and now locusts and darkness As a matter of a fact, after Moses and Aaron were directed by God to cast soot into the air, all of the following plagues were started by Moses doing something as God commanded HIM, not he and Aaron. Aaron seems to have now taken a second seat to his younger brother.
Moses semes to have now proven to God that he CAN speak 'quick of tongue' and hence does not need his brother to speak for him. Aaron has fallen into the role of a sidekick, rather than an equal of Moses. This reminded me of a movie that came out in July 2005, "SKY HIGH"---a fun movie about a super hero's high school.
When the kids in the movie go to 'Sky High', they are assigned to be either a Hero, or a Sidekick, depending upon what power they can demonstrate. Hilariously funny way this is done, especially with the 'CAR!!!!!'. In our life, we can be either, depending upon what 'powers' we have been given by God. We are all very familiar with the passages that discuss talents given to each of us, and basically what the movie is about, is using these powers (talents) to ward off evil. In the movie, it was 'Royal Pain', in our lives, it is 'satan'.
The movie makes a point about powers being inherited, but not necessarily 'available' until a certain age (hence Sky High). I tend to think most of our powers are also inherited...inherited from God. It is a matter of time before these are made available to us as well. As a child, before understanding Christ, we didn't exhibit these powers. But once we have been baptized, these powers become more evident. Some of us, like the lead child actor in this movie, do not believe that we have certain powers. As a matter of a fact, a lot of us don't think we have ANY power (or if we do, we don't show it off, so to speak). The Bible states differently.....search out the Scriptures and find for yourself the listings of talents that our Hero has put at our disposal. Our 'royal pain', satan, needs to be stopped in his tracks. We sidekicks need to grow our powers given to us if we plan to defeat him.
Being a sidekick in the movie, meant not having the superpowers as demonstrated by some of the kids, but yet, having SOME powers that might be useful in life. I see us as being sidekicks. We have plenty of heroes in the Bible with superpowers: Daniel, Sampson, Jacob, Elijah, Elisha, Paul, and most certainly Jesus. That is not an all exhaustive list, but if you look at each one of these, you will see some type of super-human power which they demonstrated. There were, of course, plenty of sidekicks as well: Delilah, Sarah, Gehazi, early disciples....this list could go on and on, even up to us today. We don't necessarily possess superhuman powers---
Reply to this
---we don't hear of many of us physically wrestling with an angel of God and winning. We don't defend ourselves from a thousand men with a jawbone from a donkey. We don't make axe heads float. We don't cure people of leprosy, deformities, dysentery and other diseases. BUT, we do have 'sidekick' powers. We can help people change their lives for the better. We can guide them toward seeking God and eventually they can also inherit the great Kingdom. We can love people who irritate us (although a lot of times we don't, we simply get angry). We can talk with God, who can THEN do those 'hero' things for which we ask. And remember, talking to God in prayer, if you have faith, can make mountains move. Maybe not physical mountains--that superhero feat is left to God, but other 'mountains' in our lives. The mountain of lust; the mountain of self-doubt; the mountain of shyness and laziness; the mountain of hate---all these, and more, can be moved out of our sidekick lives simply by having faith in God and asking for it.
Aaron was Moses' sidekick who played an important role in this 'superhero's' mission for God. He enabled Moses to learn, and use, his own 'super powers', even if it was just learning how to be brave and stop fearing Pharaoh. We can enable each other as well. I envision Moses like the quarterback, and Aaron a running back. Moses needed Aaron for some important plays, but when the big ones came, the quarterback superhero had to step in.
Roy Rogers had a sidekick. So did Sergeant Preston. And Quickdraw McGraw. And Batman. And the Green Hornet. And the Lone Ranger. And Lassie. And Superman. And Jesus---we are the oft unremembered sidekicks who have extremely important roles to play. "Hero Support" was the term used in Sky High....and what better term for us.....a supporter of our main Hero, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I challenge you not to waste your powers (talents) and sit idly by on the sidelines in this game of life, but to be part of the team, even if you are not the quarterback. Be a sidekick WITH a kick.
Reply to this
Great point about noticing the transition of Moses from the doubter who relied on Aaron to the confident leader. And good tie-in with the Sky High movie.
Reply to this
Verse 2 says: "that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD."
The LORD wanted to make an impact on the Israelites. He acted powerfully on their behalf to save them from their opressor and to ensure that they knew the LORD. And he expected the effect to last for generations to come. As we know, it didn't even last for that generation with the exception of a few. I am sure we will blog more on that as we read it.
So how has God worked powerfully in my life? And as Tony mentioned yesterday or the day before, it usually doesn't take much to send us into a tailspin. God has worked miracles to get us baptized and to keep us faithful. I hope we are cognizant of that - I think I will do some meditation on that today.
And along those lines, we started 2 or 3 weeks ago to post our conversion stories. I think I might have missed a couple??
Reply to this
Ya didn't 'miss any'.
No one has yet taken the time to write them out. Be patient, they (we) will as the Lord leads us.
Didja happen to catch 'my' challenge of yesterday?
Reply to this
Why do you guys think that Pharaoh didn't just kill Moses? Isn't that what typically happens. From the beginning, Moses makes demands of him. Any thoughts on this?
Reply to this
As Jesus says in the book of John, "My time hasn't yet come."
So it is with Moses. The hand of God was about him, hence, even if Pharaoh had made an attempt, it would have quickly failed. I believe Pharaoh 'knew' that Moses was the messenger of someone very powerful, and was afraid (yes, afraid) of hurting him.
During the 30's and 40's, Chicago and New York mobs were powerful organizations (probably are, but we don't hear so much about them anymore). Movies and newspapers articles have depicted how messengers would be sent from one mob to another with threats and 'promises of threats'. NORMALLY, those messengers were left unharmed, and usually carried back a message (if not the head of another mobster) to his head mobster. It was not their time to die...that would come later when 'war' broke out between the 'families'.
Not being 'one's time', I think is the real reason these messengers, and Moses (who was God's messenger), were not harmed. Make sense?
Reply to this
In verse 3 God says: "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?" I wonder how often God says the same about people in this world. I wonder how often he says it about me. God wants all of us to be humble before him. Humble before God means that we acknowledge (in action not just in our heads or with our mouths) that we need God. What can I do without God? Really, what can I do on my own? I venture to say absolutely nothing. I just take for granted that I have eyes to read with, ears to hear with, a mouth to speak with, a brain, a wife, children, a job, a car, money in the bank, and on and on. The fact is, I take much for granted and I give little credit to God. God is worthy of so much more than I give to him.
I want to humble myself before God much more than I do. I want to live a life of humbling myself before God. I want to acknowledge my need for him everyday. How about you guys?
Reply to this