Tag: Moses

How do we view ourselves?

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These reflections on what to do when we have too low a view of ourselves are based on Exodus 3:1–20.

‘But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ (v11)

While we shouldn’t rely on ourselves, that does not mean that we should put ourselves down. Each one of us has unique talents that God has lavished upon us, and longs for us to use rather than hide (see Matthew 25). The good news is that, even if we think we are nobodies, the Bible shows us that God has a habit of using nobodies! 

GOD’S VIEW IS THE MOST ACCURATE

Our reading focuses on just one chapter of Moses meeting God. In it, Moses responds to God’s commissioning with a host of questions and arguments. He finally admits the reason why he does not want to be God’s spokesperson: ‘I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ (Exodus 4:10). God was extremely patient with him, but didn’t allow Moses’ calling to be halted by the low view Moses had of himself. The same is true of Gideon. God used him mightily despite his plea: ‘how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ (Judges 6:15).

We need to remind ourselves that God’s view of us is much more accurate than our own, which will be coloured by past experiences and the opinions of those around us.

GOD HAS PURPOSES TO WORK OUT…THROUGH YOU

However we view ourselves, God is at work in us and reveals His glory through us. Meditate on this promise today: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).

If you know you struggle with feeling worthy enough to be used by God, here is some optional further reading: Exodus 4, Matthew 25:14–30, Judges 6–7, 2 Corinthians 12:1–10. And here is another blog post you might want to read.

Do not treat holiness lightly

Reflections based on Leviticus 9:1–10:3.

Leviticus 9 sees the priests begin their duties as those who will enter the Tabernacle and sacrifice on the altar on behalf of the people. Moses’ brother Aaron and his sons are chosen as priests and the start of our passage details how Aaron follows God’s instructions to the letter. We are told that Moses and Aaron then enter the Tent of Meeting and when they came back out God’s glory appeared. A fire from His presence burned up the offering and the people responded to His presence in joy but also by humbling themselves, recognising they had just witnessed an incredible display of His holiness.

Unfortunately, there were two among them who didn’t take God’s holiness as seriously. Underestimating God, they offered up unauthorised fire to Him – and were consumed as a result. It seems harsh to our modern eyes but these men had been warned. They had followed God’s commands on how to be ordained as priests, which involved a long and complicated process (see chapter 8). They had seen God at Mount Sinai, had heard how God told them not to allow His fire on the altar to go out (in chapter 6) and seen Moses and Aaron go inside the Tabernacle and emerge unscathed. And yet, at this critical moment, they choose to offer ‘unauthorised fire’. It is as if they had grown cocky somehow, or, at the very least, indifferent. Whatever was going on in their minds, they chose to ignore God’s command at their peril. The details were there to protect them from God’s holy fire; their disobedience cost them their lives. This is a sobering reminder that God is holy; we are not. 

Prayer: Father I can see that You gave strict instructions in order to shield Your people from Your holy fire. I humbly acknowledge You are still a holy God today. Amen.

Instructions on offerings

Reflections based on Leviticus 1:1–17.

In the latter part of Exodus, God continues to give instructions to the Israelites on what is necessary for Him to dwell with them. In an amazing act of humility, He tells them that He will come and dwell with them in the Tabernacle that He instructs them to erect in the campsite. One of the Hebrew words used in Exodus to describe the Tabernacle tent is miqdash, which means holy place. God also instructs them to set apart priests to work in the Tabernacle. Leviticus starts with God speaking to Moses from the Tabernacle about the types of offerings the people should give. The whole of Leviticus is centred around God’s holiness – the very word holiness is mentioned more times than anywhere else in the Bible (152 times)! 

To our modern eyes, Leviticus seems like a blood-filled, strange book. But just think – God had taken up permanent residency with the Israelites so they needed to continue to consecrate themselves. If they wanted to continue to enjoy His favour and presence then, as we see in this first chapter, blood had to be shed. As God said to them in Leviticus 11:44, ‘consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.’ In order to approach their holy God, the people’s sin had to be atoned for. This first chapter of Leviticus talks about the burnt offering, while the subsequent few chapters cover the other four types of offerings. In each one it is the perfection of the sacrifice that was so important – and by laying hands on the sacrifice the priest was transferring peoples’ guilt to it. This all points towards the final sacrifice that was to come: Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Prayer: Loving God, just as blood sacrifice was a way of atoning for the Israelites’ sins thank You that Your Son provided a way for us to be saved. Help me never to take that for granted. Amen.