Moses complained to the Lord that he couldn't "talk to the people of Israel" because he wasn't trained, he had stage fright, public speaking wasn't his thing, he had a speech defect, his cellphone battery had run down, his neighbor was grouchy and unapproachable, he didn't like knocking on doors, rejection was intimidating, he had tried it once and failed, he didn't know his Bible well enough to give a study to the Egyptians, there were lots of others who could do it better, witnessing wasn't his gift, he was more into sewing layettes, his wardrobe was too shabby, he was shy, he had to have his hair done first, he didn't have the money for gasoline, at his age it was getting harder to get around, he was tired and needed an afternoon nap, 3ABN was doing a good job, wha' daya suppose preachers and elders are for, the meeting started the same time as Jeopardy, once he got so frightened he peed himself, yadda, yadda, yadda.
So God asked him, "What do you have in your hand?" And Moses answered, "My staff." Or maybe he said; my laptop computer, my IPod, my cell phone, a DVD from Amazing Facts, a religious music CD from Christian Edition (men's singing group), a copy of Steps To Christ, (one in English and another in Spanish), announcements for an upcoming satellite evangelistic series, a Bible, a key to the church, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, some clothes, a dollar bill, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Or maybe Moses didn't really believe the stuff he had learned over the past forty years herding sheep, or maybe in forty years he forgot all the things he learned in church school, or maybe he couldn't afford to give money to the church anymore (probably they just waste it anyway...ya know...ya know.
And God asked him; "Why do you still go to church?" And Moses said (looking at the ground and pretending to think real hard); "Well, ya know, all my friends are there, it's the only time I ever really get out of the house, I love potluck Sabbath (especially the sauerkraut and Big Franks), the sermons are good, I get to sit in the lobby and talk to friends during SS and church, I just sorta catch up on things, they have food in the lobby (lotsa sweet snacks and juice) (some say it's gluppy but I don't), it's nice and warm in the church, I can listen (but never say a word or ask a question) during lesson study, yadda, yadda, yadda.
So God took a deep breath and asked Moses again...."What do you have in your hand?" Moses held both hands palms up...studied them for a moment, and answered with a sort of question mark; "Nothing?" And God said waitingly, patiently, "Not so! None of my children are ever empty-handed." And God added; "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you." [Matthew 7:7]
By the way, what is that you have in your hand?
God Bless. e.c.
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