Failing again

Acts 7:17-29

Moses was sure his excuses would work. The Lord called him to go to Pharaoh, but Moses had his song and dance ready. Most times, we look to his experience at the burning bush as a lesson to skip the excuses and follow God's leading. That's not a bad lesson, of course. But if you've ever thought Moses was a little too quick to get out of his mission, remember Stephen. Stephen stood accused of being against the faith of Moses (Acts 6:14). The council gave him a chance to speak for himself. So, he recalled the historic faith of his people, including Moses' story. His point was to show he wasn't rejecting his tradition. Instead, he saw it fulfilled in Jesus' ministry. As part of his retelling, he reminded everyone of Moses education and life in Egypt. One day, upon seeing the ill treatment of one of his people, Moses acted. It wasn't a good act, mind you. An Egyptian was now dead. But notice Stephen's extrabiblical explanation of why Moses decided to act. Of Moses, Stephen said, "He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand" (Acts 7:25). We assume Stephen included that bit of commentary to illustrate his audience's inability to understand what God was doing that day as well. Or their unwillingness to understand. Apparently, before the burning bush, Moses convinced himself the Israelites would listen to him. Why wouldn't they? He was one of them, after all. But they didn't because they didn't understand. And since they didn't, Moses spent the next forty years building a new life in the desert. So, can you blame him for looking for a way out of God's plan all those years later? Maybe, then, another lesson is about our failures. Moses was wrong in what he did to the Egyptian. He was wrong about how he thought the Israelites would respond. But God wasn't that concerned about his failures when he called him from the burning bush. Maybe we shouldn't be overly concerned about ours when God calls us. Stay blessed...john