Moses: Prepared
Stories
Contents
"Moses: Prepared" by David O. Bales
"Re-call" by David O. Bales
"The Goose Story" by John Fitzgerald
Moses: Prepared
by David O. Bales
Exodus 3:1-15
Moses can almost consider his situation as fortunate. The Egyptians aren’t concerned enough about justice to tramp ten days across the desert for one murderer -- especially to a place so bleak it’s named “Desolation.” No, best for Moses that he concentrate on the positive: safety from Egypt’s revenge, plus a wife, family, job, and social stability as the son-in-law of a priest. A shepherd’s nomadic life isn’t as flashy as Egypt’s palaces; but, in a reduced way, it has its perks. No crops means no enemies driving their livestock into your fields to feed on your toil. And if you don’t have a house, no one can covet it.
Yet, when he’s alone out here with the sheep -- these crafty, stupid, needy sheep -- he remembers and wonders. He remembers the years in Egypt. Servants leaping at his whisper, the land’s luscious food, clothing that emanated royalty -- besides the obeisance everywhere as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Walk down a street and everyone bowed and he saw awe and envy in their faces.
Awe and envy. Awe and envy. And all past. Moses walks now behind the flock. He sees on the rise ahead that he must hurry to get there before the speckled ewe crests. He calls, but she doesn’t respond. If she gets out of sight, that ornery sheep will turn and lead the rest to last month’s graze. She’s smart enough to remember her last month’s sustenance but stupid enough not to remember that it was consumed a month ago. If she gets her way, Moses will lose half the day rounding the flock and leading them to their new pasture.
Best for everyone if Moses settle his thoughts into this daily plodding and not dwell on his old life or wonder what might have been if he’d curbed his rage. One senseless act. He could’ve done differently. He had the Pharaoh’s ear. He could’ve complained about the treatment of the Hebrews, even suggested that he help solve the problem.
No, he took matters in his own hand, and took a human life with that hand. Now, even if he’d flee as far as possible, trudge through the desert’s shimmer of last night’s dew until he can’t think another thought, he’ll still see the Egyptian. The man had been doing what he was ordered to do. Nothing extraordinary about the taskmaster. He was trained to beat laborers. But no matter how long ago it was, a dozen times a day Moses sees the man’s face as he twitched his last. The memory touches him like the strap of the shepherd’s bag over his shoulder. Again he hefts the knife is his hand, and the warmth of blood spurts from the man’s chest, and the man’s legs seem to resist him as he drags the corpse into the sand’s shallow grave. Moses looks toward the sheep, quickens his pace, and sees the Egyptian’s face again.
He’s never spoken to Zipporah about this. She doesn’t deserve to worry about him. She has enough to do to guarantee survival of the family and clan. He’s never talked to anyone about it. He has only his thoughts growing grotesquely and blooming into poisonous plants in his dreams, waking her and the children again, yet shaking his sweating head and saying, “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Then the walk outside the tent under the stars to calm himself. Again last night, most of the night, until he tiptoes into the tent before dawn, hoping he’s been gone long enough for all to return to sleep. Zipporah touches him gently and, as she’s learned during these strained years of marriage, says nothing.
He thinks of Zipporah, her dark, trusting eyes, and wonders what he can say that would help her without telling all the truth. He can’t stand the idea of revealing everything to her. She’s always been impressed by his educated, Egyptian ways. What would she think or do if she heard it all?
That ewe, the speckled one. Moses has lost sight of her again. And, being exhausted from lack of sleep, he’s wandered into thorns. Maybe he’s been sleep walking. He certainly hasn’t been vigilant for his flock, his father-in-law’s flock. He tries to run, but stubs his toe on a pyramid of rock. Not only have the sheep wandered over the rough ground, Moses has, as though in a dream, found himself encircled by bushes like a fence around him. He halts and looks to the broken ridge before him, wondering at the same time if he’ll ever find the sheep or his peace of mind.
Only a few more steps and he’ll meet another bush that will sweep him above the regret of any memory and beyond any wonders he’s ever had.
PREACHING POINT: Moses, and each of us, is somehow prepared for God to meet us with a task much larger than ourselves.
* * *
Re-call
by David O. Bales
Jeremiah 15:15-21
As Rachel walks from the parking lot to the church door, she becomes aware of her shoes dragging kerslap, kerslap on the sidewalk. Her heavy shoes shouldn’t surprise her. It’s been coming on for ten years. Ten years and she’s now flamed out, batteries dead, wells depleted. This will be her last evening as pastor. This will be her last session meeting as pastor, although no one else knows it.
She’d been so sure that she was called to be a pastor. People in her home congregation confirmed her. Her pastor Verne Groves put it, “You have the God-given skills to be a pastor.” She felt the Spirit’s ever expanding presence within her leading her to study religion in college and then to attend seminary. Her hopes were confirmed when she was called as pastor to a church in central Georgia. Leaving Chicago would be a great adventure and journeying to a different culture was sure to enrich and strengthen her faith.
She was advised to expect problems as the congregation’s first female pastor. And she did have to rebuff some snide statements and push away some male hands. Nothing she hadn’t dealt with in college. She could stick up for herself. But then she faced the new literalists/legalists who migrated to the congregation when another congregation exploded in controversy.
Why they came to this Presbyterian church she didn’t know; but, no matter their smooth Christian words about searching for the peace of Christ, they brought division. They didn’t understand that what the Apostle Paul wrote to his churches two millennia ago about women teachers didn’t apply to all churches everywhere -- just as didn’t his words about slavery and the divine right of kings.
She wonders again about her call to ministry as she sets up the room for the session meeting -- tables shoved together, chairs evenly spaced. When the meeting is convened, first on the agenda is to receive a new member: Karen Mueller. Rachel ushers Karen in, introduces her, and seats her at the table. Then she says, as never before to a new member, “Karen, in colonial times, when people joined the Presbyterian church, other than acknowledging Jesus as Savior and Lord, they were asked about their faith experience. Would you like to share something about your faith?”
Karen clears her throat and says, “I went through the inquirers’ class here nine years ago. I appreciated not being pressed to join your church then. I had become a Christian and joined a church in Santa Monica when I was 14. I never lost the sense that God loved me, and now my kids got me back into church here.”
Rachel smiles and nods as if that’s an adequate statement for session to act upon Karen’s membership. Karen continues, “This church has helped me break a bad habit. Since childhood, I’d always thought people should be nicer to me. I made up imaginary friends who treated me as I thought I should be treated. Didn’t work well as a child. As an adult I usually latched onto a man at work and fantasized he’d be better to me than my husband. Didn’t work well then either.”
Rachel coughs and says, “Well -- ”
“I fantasized I had different kids, better, perfect ones. Fantasized a different house. Suppose I was so busy thinking about how another person would treat me better than Jim he divorced me and found a woman who treated him better than I did.”
Rachel looks down at the agenda lying useless on the table.
“Last year I brought my kids to your Wednesday night program for cheap babysitting. Then I was asked to help in the kitchen during the program and I’ve found this is the place for me. I appreciate Pastor Rachel’s approach to the Bible. She says the Bible’s message drills into us in more than literal ways. And we’ve got to admit what we’ve done and not be blaming others all the time.”
This sounds to Rachel like what she teaches.
“It came home to me slowly; but, as Pastor Rachel says, I shouldn’t be surprised how God works. I’ve needed a while to think sideways about it, as Pastor Rachel puts it. It’s like in Paris in 1940. One of the German occupiers spotted Picasso at a street side restaurant. He held down a postcard reproduction of Picasso’s painting of the bombed Spanish city Guernica and asked, ‘Did you this?’ to which Picasso answered, ‘No, you did.’ A strange and round about connection, I know; but, that struck me like one of Jesus’ parables, letting me know how much I blamed others and didn’t see my own faults.”
Session has nothing further to discuss with Karen Mueller. They thank her profusely for sharing her faith, and vote her into membership. Rachel says, “Karen. That story about Picasso. It sounds familiar.”
“You told us.”
“Me?”
“At the inquirers’ class nine years ago.”
After the meeting, as usual, Rachel is the last to leave the church building -- putting the social room back in order and room by room and hall by hall turning out the lights. She doesn’t notice how swiftly she walks to the parking lot.
PREACHING POINT: No matter their difficulties in serving, the Holy Spirit continually renews God’s servants in their ministries.
* * *
Then Goose Story
by John Fitzgerald
Romans 12:9-21
When you see geese heading South for the winter or returning North in the spring you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly in a certain fashion:
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.
When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into line.
When the lead goose grows tired it rotates to the back in order for another goose to take over.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those ahead of it.
When a goose is sick two other geese fall out of line to aid it.
St. Paul might well have known about lessons from geese as he composed our scripture lesson. Our Bible reading stresses unity, love for each other, and service much as the natural expression of geese flying in V formation.
The background for Romans chapter 12 is Apostle Paul reaching out to Christians living in an influential city. Rome, of course, served as capital of the ancient world. The folks who comprised a church in Rome would have been primary for Paul to reach in his writing ministry.
Just as there are so many competing interests in urban areas of 21st century America, New Testament Rome would have a variety of conflicting expressions of faith and lifestyle. Paul’s desire is to help people who believe in Jesus to have unity and love for each other in the midst a variety of choices.
The entire biblical passage from Romans 12 is a great reminder of not only how people dwelling in ancient Rome are to relate, but also Christians living in the year 2017. Here are some wonderful reminders from our scripture: “Hate what is evil, cling to what is good” -- verse 9, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” -- verse 11, “Practice hospitality” -- verse 13, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” -- verse 15, “live at peace with everyone” -- verse 18, “Do not take revenge...but leave room for God’s wrath“ -- verse 19.
If these biblical principles were put into practice, our world of 2017 would look a lot different. I close with the challenge from our final scriptural admonition (verse 21): “Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
*****************************************
StoryShare, September 3, 2017, issue.
Copyright 2017 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
"Moses: Prepared" by David O. Bales
"Re-call" by David O. Bales
"The Goose Story" by John Fitzgerald
Moses: Prepared
by David O. Bales
Exodus 3:1-15
Moses can almost consider his situation as fortunate. The Egyptians aren’t concerned enough about justice to tramp ten days across the desert for one murderer -- especially to a place so bleak it’s named “Desolation.” No, best for Moses that he concentrate on the positive: safety from Egypt’s revenge, plus a wife, family, job, and social stability as the son-in-law of a priest. A shepherd’s nomadic life isn’t as flashy as Egypt’s palaces; but, in a reduced way, it has its perks. No crops means no enemies driving their livestock into your fields to feed on your toil. And if you don’t have a house, no one can covet it.
Yet, when he’s alone out here with the sheep -- these crafty, stupid, needy sheep -- he remembers and wonders. He remembers the years in Egypt. Servants leaping at his whisper, the land’s luscious food, clothing that emanated royalty -- besides the obeisance everywhere as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Walk down a street and everyone bowed and he saw awe and envy in their faces.
Awe and envy. Awe and envy. And all past. Moses walks now behind the flock. He sees on the rise ahead that he must hurry to get there before the speckled ewe crests. He calls, but she doesn’t respond. If she gets out of sight, that ornery sheep will turn and lead the rest to last month’s graze. She’s smart enough to remember her last month’s sustenance but stupid enough not to remember that it was consumed a month ago. If she gets her way, Moses will lose half the day rounding the flock and leading them to their new pasture.
Best for everyone if Moses settle his thoughts into this daily plodding and not dwell on his old life or wonder what might have been if he’d curbed his rage. One senseless act. He could’ve done differently. He had the Pharaoh’s ear. He could’ve complained about the treatment of the Hebrews, even suggested that he help solve the problem.
No, he took matters in his own hand, and took a human life with that hand. Now, even if he’d flee as far as possible, trudge through the desert’s shimmer of last night’s dew until he can’t think another thought, he’ll still see the Egyptian. The man had been doing what he was ordered to do. Nothing extraordinary about the taskmaster. He was trained to beat laborers. But no matter how long ago it was, a dozen times a day Moses sees the man’s face as he twitched his last. The memory touches him like the strap of the shepherd’s bag over his shoulder. Again he hefts the knife is his hand, and the warmth of blood spurts from the man’s chest, and the man’s legs seem to resist him as he drags the corpse into the sand’s shallow grave. Moses looks toward the sheep, quickens his pace, and sees the Egyptian’s face again.
He’s never spoken to Zipporah about this. She doesn’t deserve to worry about him. She has enough to do to guarantee survival of the family and clan. He’s never talked to anyone about it. He has only his thoughts growing grotesquely and blooming into poisonous plants in his dreams, waking her and the children again, yet shaking his sweating head and saying, “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Then the walk outside the tent under the stars to calm himself. Again last night, most of the night, until he tiptoes into the tent before dawn, hoping he’s been gone long enough for all to return to sleep. Zipporah touches him gently and, as she’s learned during these strained years of marriage, says nothing.
He thinks of Zipporah, her dark, trusting eyes, and wonders what he can say that would help her without telling all the truth. He can’t stand the idea of revealing everything to her. She’s always been impressed by his educated, Egyptian ways. What would she think or do if she heard it all?
That ewe, the speckled one. Moses has lost sight of her again. And, being exhausted from lack of sleep, he’s wandered into thorns. Maybe he’s been sleep walking. He certainly hasn’t been vigilant for his flock, his father-in-law’s flock. He tries to run, but stubs his toe on a pyramid of rock. Not only have the sheep wandered over the rough ground, Moses has, as though in a dream, found himself encircled by bushes like a fence around him. He halts and looks to the broken ridge before him, wondering at the same time if he’ll ever find the sheep or his peace of mind.
Only a few more steps and he’ll meet another bush that will sweep him above the regret of any memory and beyond any wonders he’s ever had.
PREACHING POINT: Moses, and each of us, is somehow prepared for God to meet us with a task much larger than ourselves.
* * *
Re-call
by David O. Bales
Jeremiah 15:15-21
As Rachel walks from the parking lot to the church door, she becomes aware of her shoes dragging kerslap, kerslap on the sidewalk. Her heavy shoes shouldn’t surprise her. It’s been coming on for ten years. Ten years and she’s now flamed out, batteries dead, wells depleted. This will be her last evening as pastor. This will be her last session meeting as pastor, although no one else knows it.
She’d been so sure that she was called to be a pastor. People in her home congregation confirmed her. Her pastor Verne Groves put it, “You have the God-given skills to be a pastor.” She felt the Spirit’s ever expanding presence within her leading her to study religion in college and then to attend seminary. Her hopes were confirmed when she was called as pastor to a church in central Georgia. Leaving Chicago would be a great adventure and journeying to a different culture was sure to enrich and strengthen her faith.
She was advised to expect problems as the congregation’s first female pastor. And she did have to rebuff some snide statements and push away some male hands. Nothing she hadn’t dealt with in college. She could stick up for herself. But then she faced the new literalists/legalists who migrated to the congregation when another congregation exploded in controversy.
Why they came to this Presbyterian church she didn’t know; but, no matter their smooth Christian words about searching for the peace of Christ, they brought division. They didn’t understand that what the Apostle Paul wrote to his churches two millennia ago about women teachers didn’t apply to all churches everywhere -- just as didn’t his words about slavery and the divine right of kings.
She wonders again about her call to ministry as she sets up the room for the session meeting -- tables shoved together, chairs evenly spaced. When the meeting is convened, first on the agenda is to receive a new member: Karen Mueller. Rachel ushers Karen in, introduces her, and seats her at the table. Then she says, as never before to a new member, “Karen, in colonial times, when people joined the Presbyterian church, other than acknowledging Jesus as Savior and Lord, they were asked about their faith experience. Would you like to share something about your faith?”
Karen clears her throat and says, “I went through the inquirers’ class here nine years ago. I appreciated not being pressed to join your church then. I had become a Christian and joined a church in Santa Monica when I was 14. I never lost the sense that God loved me, and now my kids got me back into church here.”
Rachel smiles and nods as if that’s an adequate statement for session to act upon Karen’s membership. Karen continues, “This church has helped me break a bad habit. Since childhood, I’d always thought people should be nicer to me. I made up imaginary friends who treated me as I thought I should be treated. Didn’t work well as a child. As an adult I usually latched onto a man at work and fantasized he’d be better to me than my husband. Didn’t work well then either.”
Rachel coughs and says, “Well -- ”
“I fantasized I had different kids, better, perfect ones. Fantasized a different house. Suppose I was so busy thinking about how another person would treat me better than Jim he divorced me and found a woman who treated him better than I did.”
Rachel looks down at the agenda lying useless on the table.
“Last year I brought my kids to your Wednesday night program for cheap babysitting. Then I was asked to help in the kitchen during the program and I’ve found this is the place for me. I appreciate Pastor Rachel’s approach to the Bible. She says the Bible’s message drills into us in more than literal ways. And we’ve got to admit what we’ve done and not be blaming others all the time.”
This sounds to Rachel like what she teaches.
“It came home to me slowly; but, as Pastor Rachel says, I shouldn’t be surprised how God works. I’ve needed a while to think sideways about it, as Pastor Rachel puts it. It’s like in Paris in 1940. One of the German occupiers spotted Picasso at a street side restaurant. He held down a postcard reproduction of Picasso’s painting of the bombed Spanish city Guernica and asked, ‘Did you this?’ to which Picasso answered, ‘No, you did.’ A strange and round about connection, I know; but, that struck me like one of Jesus’ parables, letting me know how much I blamed others and didn’t see my own faults.”
Session has nothing further to discuss with Karen Mueller. They thank her profusely for sharing her faith, and vote her into membership. Rachel says, “Karen. That story about Picasso. It sounds familiar.”
“You told us.”
“Me?”
“At the inquirers’ class nine years ago.”
After the meeting, as usual, Rachel is the last to leave the church building -- putting the social room back in order and room by room and hall by hall turning out the lights. She doesn’t notice how swiftly she walks to the parking lot.
PREACHING POINT: No matter their difficulties in serving, the Holy Spirit continually renews God’s servants in their ministries.
* * *
Then Goose Story
by John Fitzgerald
Romans 12:9-21
When you see geese heading South for the winter or returning North in the spring you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly in a certain fashion:
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.
When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into line.
When the lead goose grows tired it rotates to the back in order for another goose to take over.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those ahead of it.
When a goose is sick two other geese fall out of line to aid it.
St. Paul might well have known about lessons from geese as he composed our scripture lesson. Our Bible reading stresses unity, love for each other, and service much as the natural expression of geese flying in V formation.
The background for Romans chapter 12 is Apostle Paul reaching out to Christians living in an influential city. Rome, of course, served as capital of the ancient world. The folks who comprised a church in Rome would have been primary for Paul to reach in his writing ministry.
Just as there are so many competing interests in urban areas of 21st century America, New Testament Rome would have a variety of conflicting expressions of faith and lifestyle. Paul’s desire is to help people who believe in Jesus to have unity and love for each other in the midst a variety of choices.
The entire biblical passage from Romans 12 is a great reminder of not only how people dwelling in ancient Rome are to relate, but also Christians living in the year 2017. Here are some wonderful reminders from our scripture: “Hate what is evil, cling to what is good” -- verse 9, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” -- verse 11, “Practice hospitality” -- verse 13, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” -- verse 15, “live at peace with everyone” -- verse 18, “Do not take revenge...but leave room for God’s wrath“ -- verse 19.
If these biblical principles were put into practice, our world of 2017 would look a lot different. I close with the challenge from our final scriptural admonition (verse 21): “Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
*****************************************
StoryShare, September 3, 2017, issue.
Copyright 2017 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
