Daily Lectionary | Exodus 4 & Matthew 10:24-42
Exodus 4
Summary
Moses is still at Mt. Horeb and deliberating with God about his new calling. Moses is concerned about people questioning his authority and whether the Lord really appeared to him. The Lord tells Moses to take his staff and throw it down. It turns into a serpent and Moses flees! But the Lord tells Moses to grab it by its tail, and Moses obeyed and it became a staff again.
The serpent from Genesis 3 represents Satanic opposition. Moses will be engaged in a battle the serpent, but he will ultimately prevail. Moses’ shepherd’s rod will now become a sign of his authority to deliver God’s people.
As another sign, Moses puts his hand inside his cloak, removes it, and sees that it’s leprous. He repeats this exercise and is cleansed. Leprosy meant uncleanness and exclusion from the Lord. Israel has become unclean in Egypt, but not only will the Lord rescue them, he will cleanse them through his servant Moses.
These two signs show the Lord’s authority over the external opposition of the serpent/Pharaoh and the internal corruption of the heart.
Moses protests that he’s slow of speech and tongue. It would appear Moses is now being obstinate. He’s just witnesses two powerful signs but is not ready to fully trust the Lord. The Lord meets this objection: Aaron will speak for him.
Moses goes back to Egypt now that his avengers from when he killed an Egyptian are dead. Moses will perform miracles before Pharaoh and say: “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If Pharaoh refuses, it will be eye-for-an-eye: he will lose his firstborn.
The situation with Zipporah circumcising Gershom is strange. Circumcision is a mini-sacrifice, with shedding of blood. Some have seen in this a preview of the Passover, when blood will be shed and also displayed, not on Moses legs but on the door post of the house.
Reflection
How does Moses struggle to accept God’s call on his life? How does the Lord aid his faith?
Pharaoh must let “God’s firstborn son go.” Compare the situation with the end of Genesis when Pharaoh let Joseph go back to the land to bury his father.
Matthew 10:24-42
Summary
Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for the difficult path of discipleship ahead: “A disciples is not above a teacher, nor a servant above his master.” Whatever they do to Jesus, expect they will do to the disciples.
But in this Jesus calls the church to be fearless. Don’t fear those who exercise their power over the body, but have a healthy fear of the one who can destroy body and soul in hell! Even in persecution and great distress, we’re to remember the Lord who knows even the number of the hairs on our head.
Jesus, on the one hand, is the king of peace. There’s another angle, Jesus tells us: he comes to bring a sword. Those who follow him will be delivered against family and friends.
And a warning for those who give their lives trying to “find themselves.” You will lose yourself in the end. But if you lose yourself for Christ’s sake now, you’ll find it.
Reflection
Why does following Christ create so much conflict? What resources does Jesus give us to survive such conflict?
How does Jesus’ exhortation to “lose yourself” apply to our age when there’s such an obsession with “finding the self”?