The Gentle Message

"One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, 'Why do you strike your companion?' He answered, 'Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?' Then Moses was afraid, and thought, 'Surely the thing is known.' When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian." - Exodus 2:11-15a ESV

'Why did you strike your companion?' Ouch.

Instead of being seen as a Savior Moses was seen as just another man who beats people up. That wasn't his heart but it was the outcome of his rough actions.

Those who freely slander others are in danger of a similar judgement. There are always a few in the group who will wonder, 'When will I be next?'

After Moses did his time on the backside of the desert he returned as a man who wasn't a brawler.

"Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness." ' " - Exodus 5:1a ESV

He held a staff in his hand. He could cast it on the ground and it would turn into a serpent. He could put his hand into his garment and bring it out as leprous and then put it back in again only for it to come out clean and healed. He had power with God. He wasn't just beating on Israel's oppressors. He had a place to bring the people he wanted to help. He was to bring them into the wilderness for a feast... it wasn't going to be just one glorious meal either. They were going to be brought to freedom and into a liberated destiny.

If men truly meet God and taste his grace their balled up fists loosen. They realize that their hands (and hearts) are leprous and destructive and only God can heal the hard stony heart by giving them a new one that fills with thanksgiving instead of anger.

I care deeply about my fellow man. The Gospel is my way to help people without using my fists. If requires no hate or insult. It is peaceful toward flesh and blood.

God make us harmless today. Let evil tremble at the gentle approach of Your Son's message but let people rejoice at the discovery that they are loved.

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