#140 A Reed Exodus 5

19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21 And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. Exodus 5:19-23 KJV

Always blame the messenger. My children respond much the same way, and I remember as a boy once, having a wrist rocket. It is just a modern version of a sling shot, but it provided hours of entertainment. One day I had a friend over from school and he was shooting steel pellets with my sling shot. He shot at a lizard or something on a tree and the pellet ricocheted. There was the sound of breaking glass, but it left only a hole in the window. Two days later, my neighbor was over yelling at my mother, and dramatizing about how someone could have been killed. My mom brought me out and asked if I had done this, and I said no, but I refused to say who did, and that it was my sling shot so it was my responsibility. She thanked me for being honest, but my neighbor was the type to want blood. I mowed lawns for a living back then so I told him I could pay him within a week, but he had a "better plan". He wanted all the leaves raked and the crab grass removed from his lawn. My mom agreed to this, and so I thought I would knock it out fast, but after 6 hours one Saturday afternoon, he looked at my work and said, "this is far from over, I'll see you tomorrow." This went on for several days until I finally told my mother, this is your fault, you taught me to be honest, but this is what it gets you. No one else cares to be honest so you always put me at a disadvantage. He's using me, because he's getting free labor for something he does not want to do. I learned my lesson, next time I will say it was some boys playing in the woods. She ended it with the neighbor, and knowing him she probably gave him the difference in cash that he felt he was due. The officers of the children of Israel were quick to attack Moses, because he was the one who started this. He came to them and they believed him, but now those who were getting free labor just mocked them. They would beat this foolishness out of them. I mean who is this God really? All the people could see was Pharaoh, the result of sin common to all. Moses appeals to God, and that is the only place to find the understanding for persecution. It is the only place to find repentance, forgiveness for the persecutor and justice for the persecuted. 

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world,my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

Have you ever stopped to pray for President, mayor or other office holder? Have you ever pondered your own person and testimony when looking at your boss? It is easy to see where they fail, but all men are born damned so far as we can see, but we only see so far. I have wanted to kill the messenger so often, especially when my righteousness was based upon the outcome of its exercise. If I am praised for my honesty then all is well, and if I am targeted for it then I think there is a reason to not be later. It is not wrong to question the outcome, but go to God and not to your own devices. Do not let the evil of men be your gauge for when righteousness is sought, and pray for them as you ponder them in the light of your own wickedness. 

Shaken by the wind