Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”
Exodus 2:14
From Exodus through Deuteronomy, the arc of Moses’ narrative is told. How often do you think about the time Moses committed murder? When you think of Moses, do you think more about the plagues, the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, or the 40 years in the wilderness? Is the murder from Exodus something that comes to mind when you think of Moses?
Moses has a past...
As a pastor, I work with people who are comfortable telling me anything from their past. I mean anything. If you don’t have someone with whom you can confide in complete confidence, I recommend finding one. Without a counselor, therapist, pastor, sponsor, or any other type of confidant, the burdens of your past might crush you. You might believe things about yourself, your present, and your future that are completely untrue.
The weight of the past is heavy.
Moses ended up with a purpose in his life, even after making a horrific and barbaric mistake. God called and led Moses, even though Moses thought he couldn’t lead people. If Moses had given up on life after fleeing Egypt, he would never have been able to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt.
Never give up...
Don’t give up on yourself because of something you did in your past. Never let your past prevent you from reaching out to God.
Like many of us, Moses had to reconcile his past actions directly with God. Spiritual reconciliation leads to prayer. This is why I am often asked how and when one should pray. When these questions arise, remember Moses. He did not initially seek a prayerful existence. In his case, contact with God simply arrived—on a mountaintop, in a vision, and through a physical manifestation of the divine. Contact with God is waiting for you, and if you reach out, everything you struggle with from your past will be heard by your Creator.
Creator, we pray that our senses are prepared to be aware of your invitation to reconcile our past.
AMEN
4 Responses
This week’s message is concise, significant, and powerful.
Guilt weighs heavy and can be life crippling.
In my opinion, this is one of the most important messages you’ve shared, and I plan to pass it on.
Leilani,
It means a lot. I appreciate the feedback! After a summer break from blogging I will be making concise devotionals about gratitude for the rest of the year!
Thanks!
Great message, giving up is not a option EVER. Thank you Seth for all your work for mental illness awareness.
Thank you so much Bonnie!