Living in the Spirit

August 20, 2023

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:8-2:10

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’ –Exodus 2:1-10

The King of Egypt was concerned that the Israelites were growing in population and could threaten Egypt, so he worked them harder and ordered their baby boys to be killed. I must say that the King of Egypt at the time of Moses was not nearly as wise as the one who hired Joseph. Indeed, in my many years working for the government, I have worked under leaders who made excellent decisions and others who left me wondering what he or she was thinking. What matters is how people respond to leaders. Apparently, the Israelites did everything they could to save their sons. In this instance, they were living within a monarchy. We in the USA are trying to live in a democracy, a government by the people, but at times it seems our leadership can get distracted by the world’s way and make some decisions for which we eventually pay a high price. Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt. We, on the other hand, are responsible for choosing our leaders. Thus, we are the ones who must do our homework and make wise decisions about our leadership. I have opened both the Washington Post and the New York Times, recently reading headlines asking in one way or another if our democracy is broken. The answer is only if we let it be.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for getting caught in the world’s ways we do not follow your guidance to do justice for all people. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.