Being Simple with God.

Exodus 3:
“Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father in law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up. Moses said: “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?” God saw that he has stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” He said: “Yes, I am here!” God said: “don’t come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You’re standing on holy ground.” Then he said: “I am the God of your father: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.”

“Afraid to look at God!” How fascinating! Moses’ first encounter with the all knowing God, and Moses finds it amazing! Never the less, he is afraid of looking at God! I wonder if I would risk my life to see God’s face? I wonder if I would be afraid? I would probably faint knowing that God’s very presence appeared before me, in the midst of my work day! The story continues, and Moses finds out to be the chosen one to lead God’s people out of Egypt where they were persecuted. The very fact that Moses was alive is a gift of God in itself, as when he was born, baby boys were supposed to be drawn in the Nile river, well only the Hebrews’s babies, such was Moses. Talk of a beginning to becoming the world’s greatest leader! But then his mom saw something special about this Moses baby and hid him. Long story short he ends up in Pharaon’s very house and is raised by his daughter. Then in protection of one of his borther’s- a Hebrew man- he kills an Egyptian man- one of the Pharaon’s guys and he runs away for his life. He runs into daughters of one of the Priests’ and because he protects them from naughty shepherds, he is being rewarded to marry one of the daughters. His life continues and he is able to speak with God about his people; call God out on things; unleash 10 plagues; separate the waters and in the end, lead the people out of Egypt.

What strikes me most about this man, is the simplicity of his nature. Right away when God calls him to be the chosen one, he tells God that he is not good at speaking, because he stutters and thus will not be able to speak well even if God gives him words to speak. God of course fixes that problem by sending a well-spoken man, Aaron to act as Moses’ mouth! Can you believe that!? Then, when Moses is asked to lead God’s people, he argues with God, saying that he is a mere man, not able to deal with thousands of people, pointing out that it is God’s responsibility to take care of them! So, if this was not enough, God responds by agreeing with this man and promising that he will never leave him! So the argument continues in Exodus 33, and Moses demands God’s presence to always be with his people, so that they know how special they are to God. Again, God agrees with Moses saying that from very beginning he has known him by his name. So finally, as if Moses was testing God, the famous words come out of his mouth: “Please, let me see your glory.” And what does God do?! He let’s Moses see His very glory! Because he is special to Him; because he asked for it; and because God’s promise to us, is to give us the desires of our hearts.

How simple is this man Moses? His relationship with God is so real, so honest and so deep, because he responded to God by stopping and looking at what God put in front of him; he dared not to look at God’s face out of reverence; and he called God out on things, because he knew he was just a man who needed God’s leading and protection, before becoming a leader himself. You and I can learn from this the very fact that God wants a relationship with that you and that me, who we are right here and right now. We can be honest with God, tell him what hurts us, tell him what could be changed and ask him to show us his very glory. We don’t have to pretend in church to be someone we are not; we don’t have to act as if we wanted to impress our parents, and we can’t fool God by our “scripted” prayers. The best prayer Moses ever prayed in my opinion was this: “Please, O Master, if you see anything good in me, please Master, travel with us, hard-headed as these people are. Forgive our sins. Own us, Poses us.” And God answered him with nothing less but a greater promise: “In full sight of your people, I will work wonders that have never been created in all the Earth, in any nation. Then all the people with whom you’re living will see how tremendous God’s work is, the work I will do for you.” [Exodus 34: 8-12]

When You Are Stubborn with God.

A man named Balaam was one of those who had the privilege of directly hearing God’s voice, and I mean directly hearing God. In old days God would appoint certain people to be prophets- the ones that would mediate between God and His people, such prophets were Moses and Jeremiah. In the story in numbers 22, Balaam is asked to do as God is telling him to do. At first, he is obedient to the will of God, and probably finds it exciting, to be able to hear His very voice… but then he slips a little by trying to get ahead of himself; by trying to get things done by his own hands.

Isn’t it interesting that when we first become Believers, it seems so easy to do what God tells us to do? It is fun to be a Christian first few weeks. But then once we learn more and more about the grace of God and his unconditional love, and the purpose he has for us; we tend to go back to our own desires of doing things our own way…. Because God’s grace is so unconditional, right? And because his purpose requires our obedience and perhaps a time of waiting?

Well in the story, Balaam knew the time was not right to go…. And yet he saddled the donkey and off he went. But God knew Balaam’s heart beyond this act of self-righteousness, and sent this marvelous angel- with a sword- to give this man another chance… to save him. And what does Balaam do? At first he is so blinded by his own desires that he cannot see the signs of God’s presence trying to lead him. Only the donkey is able to see God’s angel, standing and blocking the road with a sword and if Balaam continues to move forward, the angel will kill him. Poor donkey… while trying to save his owner he got beating for nothing! So after a third time, the donkey speaks up! God gives speech to the donkey as a last chance for Balaam to give up and truly focus here…

Donkey asks: “why have you beaten me these three times, have I ever done anything to deserve that?”!!!! Oddly enough Balaam, answers the donkey, as if it was their casual conversation! I think if I heard the donkey speak, I would get the message right then!

After few sentences, the angel becomes visible to Balaam, the man falls to the ground, face in the dirt. He gets the message and repents.

Balaam is asked to simply DO as God is telling him to DO- nothing more- and nothing less. But since it is our desire to get ahead of ourselves, of God’s plans for us, we run as though – [silently] it was in our own power that we can win the race set ahead of us. We have become so self-inspired and so independent, that waiting on God, that simply doing as he tells us to, many times requires intentional prayer for mere patience and other times, God’s very intervention to re-focus our hearts and re-direct our steps, so instead of running, we start to walk again…. So instead of speaking… we listen… and instead of arguing a case, we love others for who they are.

How would you react if God sent you a speaking donkey? For me that speaking donkey was a friend last week. I tried to run ahead of myself, of God’s desires for my life… I lost my focus… I tried my own magic to create something, only God could create… once you have a relationship with such powerful and loving God, he will not let you run and lose... he will allow you to take a few steps on your own, but after that, he will send you a stubborn donkey to stop you from moving any further, and if that doesn’t work, because you are fighting your way through it… he will give speech to that donkey… and if you try to argue with that… your vision will be restored and with that, you can never argue, only fall face down and wait for further direction.