Change We Can Believe In

One thing I really noticed about Moses in Exodus-Numbers is how much he changes. I’ve somewhat been stuck on the theme of spiritual growth and the importance of getting “away” to spend time with God during this Lent, and this is a continuation of it. Moses first encounters God at the burning bush and when God asks him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt he gives the weak excuse after weak excuse until he finally says “O Lord please send someone else to do it” Exodus 4:13. God’s answer was obviously no. Imagine it, you have a once in a lifetime chance to be great, to do something meaningful, and you ask someone else to do it!? I mean, this is more than catching in Fenway; this is seeing the miracles of God firsthand and talking to Him face to face! Turn the pages in your Bible a lot farther to chapter 32 with the story of the golden calf and you see a very different Moses, one who replies to God’s anger by saying “But now please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” Exodus 32:32 (ha, funny coincidence). In other words Moses is acting as the captain God wanted him to be and is prepared to go down with the ship. The same man that said “Oh, please get someone else” is now saying “If they’re going down, as the man in charge I’m going down too.” Moses had no idea where he would be after the burning bush, but he trusted God and took a chance on life, he got away from it all and enjoyed a life greater than that of the prince of Egypt. God can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary, but first we need to have faith, be willing to change, and enjoy the ride.