PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

Not a born leader, watching Moses “grow into” a servant leader is a humbling, possibly stressful and shaming lesson. If an 80 year old man can change…. What’s the secret? Serving, believing, affiliating, interceding, and getting personally involved.

As placated by grace, before his first trip, “Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites. Aaron repeats everything the LORD has said to Moses…. (Ex 4.29-30). Aaron is the front-man. Going before Pharaoh, Aaron repeats Moses’ words that the message is from “the God of Israel, the God of the Hebrews (5.1,3).

Before the 1^st plague, Yahweh says, “say whatever I command you; then Aaron your brother must declare it to Pharaoh” (7.2) Aaron is even performing the powerful wonders, not Moses as originally planned (4.2-4). Aaron’s staff turns into a serpent (7.9). Aaron again uses his staff to bring on the 1^st and 2^nd plagues (7.19; 8:5,16). One could say the plagues of Egypt are caused by a “staff” infection!

After the plague of frogs, we witness three marvelous changes. First, Pharaoh begs Moses to intercede in prayer for him (8.8). Second, Moses speaks to Pharaoh directly (8.9). Maybe Moses figured out if he can speak directly to God, he can speak to anyone. Third, Moses claims oneness with Israel, “there is no one like the Yahweh our God” (8.10). The man of heavy tongue and mouth (4.10), and uncircumcised lips (6.12,30) is disappearing, changing, transforming right before Pharaoh’s eyes…and ours…and his own. After the 4^th plague, Moses himself audaciously warns, “But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again” (8.29). In the 6^th plague, the boils, Moses finally gets directly involved in the miracle along with Aaron, throwing soot into the air (9.10). The 7^th plague, the hail, there is another transformation. It is only Moses stretching out his staff, and not Aaron (9.22-23). For the 8^th, the locusts, it is again Moses bodily bringing on the curses (10.12-13); followed by praying again (10.18). The 9^th plague continues this transition; (10.21-22), but something else ends. No more praying. With no more prayerful interceding requested, Pharaoh defiantly demands, “Make sure you never see my face again, (or) you will die” (10.28). Moses, not Aaron, declaratively predicts, “As you’ve said, I will never see your face again” (10.29).

We’ll end this transformation as we began but with a profound difference: “Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them…” (12.21). Change comes from serving, believing, affiliating, interceding, and getting personally involved. Moses, the man “powerful in his speech and actions” (Acts 7.22), is born.

Prayer Challenge: Pray for uncomfortable change, to be a more successful and submissive servant by believing, affiliating as one, interceding for others in prayer, even enemies, and getting personally involved even before we think we are ready.

Tags: Perryisms, Prayer

This entry was posted by PHall on Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 at 2:52 pm and is filed under Exodus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.