March 8 ▪ Day 67

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 12:25
Exodus 3–4
II Corinthians 10–11
Psalms 67

Verse Focus (Proverbs 12:25)

Anxiety weighs down the heart,
     but a kind word cheers it up.

Meditation

Our proverb today, Proverbs 12:25, tells us that “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” The NRSV translation is very similar, saying, “Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.”

I was curious why the NRSV said “good” rather than “kind.” Especially since “kind word” is the translation that I’m most familiar with. So I did a quick comparison of English translations of this proverb. A couple said “encouraging word,” but by far most of the translations say “good word.” Curious, I looked it up in a Hebrew-English interlinear version. In fact, the Hebrew word used in this proverb is the word for “good,” although of course it can also mean pleasant or agreeable. It is actually the same word that is used in the Genesis creation story when God looks at the things He has created and calls them “good.” So, I’m satisfied now that the proverb does mean “good” more than it means “kind.” But what difference does it really make?

We know how important it is to encourage one another. And we also know that a kind word can make all the difference to someone who is discouraged. So we should certainly be more intentional about being kind. After all, kind words are good words. But there are also other types of good words. If we stop to think about it for a few minutes, we can easily come up with a number of other candidates for good words. For me, a good book is always an antidote to the blues. And let’s not forget prayer!

As I was meditating on this proverb today, it occurred to me that Scripture is a good word. So the proverb may be telling us to read Scripture if we’re feeling anxious. And that right there is the biggest reason why we should understand this proverb to be saying a “good” word. When I thought it was only “kind” word, I interpreted the proverb as something that I did for someone else, or that someone else did for me. Valid interpretation. But a “good” word is something that I have access to myself so that I don’t need to wait for someone else to come along and cheer me up with those encouraging words.

Father God, thank you for this proverb today. Please help me to combat anxiety in myself and others by the good words I speak or read. May your Holy Spirit teach me to be especially sensitive to those who may need to hear an encouraging word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As we continue our reading in Exodus today, we have the familiar story of Moses and the burning bush. Just like Noah and the ark, this is one of those stories taught to children in church. It has become part of our Western culture, so even those who have never really read the Bible find it a familiar story.

So Moses is out in the wilderness taking care of the flocks that belong to his father-in-law. And he comes to Horeb, called “the mountain of God.” Moses sees something really strange. A bush is on fire, but it’s not burning up — the leaves and branches are not consumed. So he goes closer to investigate. And God calls to him. Moses answers. Then God tells him, don’t come any closer — but take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. So Moses does that. And then God tells Moses who He is — the God of his people, the God who took care of his own ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God goes on to tell Moses that He has seen the misery of the Israelites and has heard how they are crying out because of their oppression. So He has come to rescue them out of Egypt and to bring them into the Promised Land — a good and spacious land, flowing with milk and honey. And then God tells Moses that He is sending Moses to go speak with Pharaoh. Moses will be the one to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Well, Moses is not too thrilled with this plan. He objects. Not once, but several times. And each time Moses raises an objection, God gives him a reason why that shouldn’t stop him. First, Moses says, who am I to do this? God replies that He will be with Moses. Next, Moses says, what if the Israelites ask me what your name is? God tells him, my name and my title is “I am who I am.” And God repeats his command to Moses, to go speak to Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites. God gives Moses additional details, telling him that the Israelites will listen to him, and that Pharaoh will balk, but eventually they will come out of Egypt having plundered the Egyptians of many valuable things.

But Moses still objects. Even though God just told him that the Israelites will listen to him, Moses says, what if they don’t believe me? So God gives Moses three miraculous signs that he can perform for anyone who doubts. But still, Moses objects again, saying that he is not eloquent — he is slow of speech and slow of tongue. God says that He is the one that gives mortals their abilities; He will teach Moses what to say. But Moses objects a final time, saying, Oh, Lord, please send someone else. God gets angry at Moses, but He tells Moses that his brother Aaron will help him and that Aaron will speak for Moses. And so Moses does go back to Egypt.

Obviously, when you read or hear this story, one of the first things that strikes you about this story is how reluctant Moses was to get involved. He had put Egypt and his own people behind him. It was in his past, and Moses had no desire to go back. He had no compassion for his own people, no desire to help with any rescues, and no desire to be a hero. He basically just wanted to be left alone. He had a pretty good life now.

When I hear Moses’ plea, please send someone else, my heart feels for him. How that resonates! Because Moses is just like us. Sometimes we are eager for ministry. But more often than not we’d rather not be the person doing the work. We want to be like Isaiah, who responds to the call of God, saying, “Here I am; send me!” But we’re usually like Moses, saying “Here I am…. Lord, please send someone else!”

There were a few things that I noted as I read the story in Exodus 3. I noticed the fear. God told Moses to take off his sandals. And it struck me that I would feel pretty vulnerable if I were the one standing there in bare feet. Not to mention that the whole idea of holy ground is pretty intimidating! When God told Moses who He was, Moses hid his face. He was afraid to even look at God. Then there’s this huge mission that God wants to give Moses. That’s not intimidating at all.

And then those miraculous signs — pick up a snake by its tail? Moses drew back when the staff first turned into a snake — one translation tells me that Moses ran away from it. He was frightened. And then God tells him to pick it up by its tail. (Doesn’t God know that’s dangerous? You don’t pick up a snake near the tail, you pick it up near the head so it can’t bite you!!!) And then having your hand turn leprous? Being told to put that diseased hand close to your chest? All in all, this is a pretty terrifying incident. I’m not sure I really picked up on Moses’ fear before, or thought much about it. Perhaps because the story was too familiar. But it’s kind of amazing that Moses even had the courage to object to God’s plans, considering how terrifying everything that was happening was. Perhaps Moses was even more terrified of what God was asking him to do, but if so the Scripture doesn’t mention that.

My last comment on Exodus 3 concerns verse 12. The first time Moses objects to the mission, saying, who am I to do this, God tells him that He will go with Moses. And then He adds this rather peculiar promise: “This shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” Does this strike you as weird? Every time I read this, I feel a bit flummoxed. What kind of sign only proves its worth after you’ve already completed the mission? Aren’t signs supposed to help you on the way?

But with that final question, I have my answer. I was thinking of Moses’ “mission” as leading the Israelites out of Egypt. And he does do that. But God knows that Moses will still have another 39 years or so to lead the Israelites in the wilderness. And the proof that God offers about them worshiping on Mount Horeb likely will sustain Moses in the many difficult years to come.

Exodus 4 has a few other things besides the addition of Aaron to the rescue team. There is God’s declaration in verse 22 — what Moses is to tell Pharaoh: “Israel is my firstborn son.” And there is another very strange story about Zipporah circumcising her son in order to save them (v. 24-26). Finally, there is Moses’ arrival in Egypt. Aaron speaks for Moses, the signs are performed, the people believe and worship.

There’s actually a lot going on in this story in verses 24 to 26. It has to do with identity, obedience, salvation, the Passover to come, and more. I’ve already written quite a bit today, so I’ll give you two links that you can read if you are interested in learning more. The one I like best is this one written by a Rabbi: https://library.yctorah.org/2013/12/a-bridegroom-of-blood/, although this other is interesting, too: https://www.thegoodbook.com/blog/interestingthoughts/2019/08/06/peculiar-passages-the-case-of-the-bloody-bridegroo/.

Boasting is the theme for today in 2 Corinthians 10 and 11. Paul writes of comparisons the Corinthians might make — comparing Paul’s forceful letters to his rather mild demeanor in person; comparing Paul to other apostles; comparing success in ministry; and comparing credentials.

Paul starts out with a fairly sensible approach to boasting, commenting in verse 12, “But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense.” He quotes Jeremiah 9:24, saying, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” And he concludes chapter 10 with the point that it doesn’t matter if we commend ourselves; what matters are those whom the Lord commends.

Nevertheless, Paul succumbs to the temptation to give in to foolish boasting. He recounts his credentials and the many trials and tribulations he has experienced in ministry. It is a rather overwhelming list — danger seemingly from all directions, persecuted, punished, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked — and not just once, but multiple times! But even as he boasts, Paul boasts “of the things that show my weakness (v. 30).” In this backwards way, Paul thereby boasts in the Lord who has rescued him from each of these trials.

Paul also writes in 2 Corinthians 10 that even though we are weak flesh — merely human — the weapons we have at our disposal have “divine power to destroy strongholds (v. 4).” Verse 5 is one of those gems that you must continue to meditate upon: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul talks about the “divine jealousy (v. 2)” he has for the Corinthians and his fear that someone might lead them astray, just as Eve was led astray by the serpent. Like Peter and Jude, Paul also mentions false apostles. He goes on to warn us that these false apostles are disguising themselves as true apostles of Christ. “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,” he says in verse 14. “So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness.”

It’s rather interesting that even though we’ve had a number of warnings about false apostles and false prophets, neither Peter, Jude, nor Paul instruct us to do anything directly about this threat. They tell us that the false prophets will get what they deserve — God will judge them severely — but then they simply entreat us to focus on sanctification.

Our final reading today, Psalm 67, is a lovely little prayer. The first verse is evocative of the priestly blessing given in Numbers 6:24-26. I especially liked the reason why we ask for this blessing: “that your way may be known upon earth.” The closing verse, too, is an apt prayer for us during this time of the pandemic: “May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him (v. 7.)”

Father God, we do pray for you to bless us and make your face shine upon us. We do want your ways to be known on earth, and we pray that all the ends of the earth will come to know Jesus the King. May we continue growing in righteousness by your Spirit. Let us take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Thank you for what we learn in your Scripture. We’re grateful that Moses was not a superman. He was like us — gifted but reluctant. Yet you used him powerfully to save your people. Please help us also to do the good works you have prepared for us. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.