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| Monday, June 30, 2008 |
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Delegate, Delegate
By webmaster @ 4:28 PM :: 255 Views ::
2 Comments :: Sister Carol Perry
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I would not have wanted to have been Moses for any fortune offered. His unenviable task was to lead a frequently rebellious people into a whole new way of living, believing, and thinking. The desert era was vital for the formation of the People of God, but living through it was not an easy time.
We need to recall that when Moses fled Egypt as a very young man he found refuge in the household of Jethro, a priest of Midian. We do not know what the Midianites believed nor whom they worshiped, but Moses married a daughter of Jethro, Zipporah, while he lived and worked with the clan.
At some point after his return to Egypt, Moses had sent back home this pagan wife and their two sons, probably for safety while he tangled with Pharaoh. In the midst of the desert period, in Exodus 18, Grandfather Jethro brings Moses' family back to him. Moses greets the older man, invites him into his tent and tells him the whole story of what God has done thus far. Jethro is so impressed he offers a sacrifice to Moses' God who, he admits, is superior to his.
But the practical desert man, Jethro, is observant enough also to see an area where he can help Moses. Having watched his son-in-law at work, with the people gathered around from morning until evening, he is appalled. He scolds Moses for wearing himself out and suggests that, while he might be the one to lay down the new laws and statutes, he needs someone else to take care of the minor matters.
"So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said..." When Jethro departs to his own flocks it has to be with a sense of satisfaction. He has lifted a burden from young Moses and so has ensured that Moses might live longer with Zipporah and the boys.
The next time you are inclined to refuse an offer of assistance, think of Jethro's advice. "You cannot do it alone." None of us can. |
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| Comments |
 By
jhlauire @
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:28 AM
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Also, it's meaningful service to assist someone in a leadership position. Also it's an important spiritual practice to take a break.
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By
gregfarrell @
Friday, July 04, 2008 6:44 AM
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7/4, 6:30 AM, The "boomerang" of learning and taking it along everywhere, ever never alone. (presently for me, a brief trip to Berkshires to reconnect with old friends) - what a journey. Never alone - "Ever present, never twice the same; always changing, never less than whole." - Irwin (paint and sculpture artist but whom designed the gardens at Getty Center in Los Angeles.)
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Welcome to MarbleTalks, a weblog published by the ministers and staff of Marble Collegiate Church. If you're unfamiliar with blogs, this short primer will help get you up to speed.
What is a Blog?
MarbleTalks provides a forum for each of our ministers and various staff members to share their thoughts, questions, and experiences with our faith community. Contributors to the blog will use a wide variety of sources for inspiration, and may share those sources when possible. Blogs are built around the active participation of their readers, and will commonly encourage you to take action in your life and the world around you.
Publishing Schedule:
| Sun. |
Dr. Caliandro |
| Mon. |
Sister Carol Perry |
| Tues. |
Rev. Lewicki |
| Wed. |
Dr. Lutz |
| Thur. |
Rev. Jordan |
| Thur. |
Dr. Ruge |
| Fri. |
Rev. Pierce |
| Sat. |
Nina Frost |
Reading Our Blog:
New articles will go up every day, and we hope you'll check in regularly. The seven most recent posts are displayed on this main page. Each article contains a short description and a link to read the full text. If you'd like to go back and read previous entries you missed, click on the "Categories" link at the top of the page and then select the author you're interested in. We don't delete old articles, so you'll be able to come back anytime and re-read the ones that speak to you in significant ways.
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