Once there was a man who witnessed great injustice and found himself in a unique position to do something about it. His miraculous birth and life during an awful time of persecution, not to mention his subsequent education and rise to authority, placed him in a special place and time to come along his earthly authority to fulfill his Heavenly Authority’s will to free an entire people.
Unfortunately for Moses, he placed himself outside of the umbrella of his authorities, took matters in his own hands, and started a precedent of death and destruction. (Pause for Thought: Read Exodus 2:11-15. What precipitated Moses to think it was all right to kill the Egyptian? How could have Moses appealed to his earthly (Pharaoh) and Heavenly (God) authority regarding the situation, so a person wouldn’t have to die? How do you want your children to appeal to you in their time of distress? When and where will you hear them out? Will you explain your expectations and reasoning to them?)
Moses would once again, under God’s grace and authority, find himself in a position to free his people. God’s timing and preparation of not only Moses, but also Pharaoh, would have to take place, so God’s ultimate authority and might could be on display for an entire people. The Israelites, from day one, would never get over Moses’s original willfulness to place himself outside of God’s Heavenly authority and the earthly authority He established. Even Moses’ own family questioned his ability to be an authority over them for a generation. (Pause for Thought: Read Exodus 14:10-12; Numbers 12:1-2; Deuteronomy 31:27-29. What authority(ies) do you find yourself under? How do your responses to their instruction influence the way your children view authority? How well do you appeal to your earthly authority? Heavenly authority? Do your responses to those you are “under” meet the expectations you have for your children’s responses to you?)
Ultimately, Moses found himself at the threshold of God’s promised land. A generation of those who started to follow Moses authority would perish in the wilderness due to their inability to appeal to their earthly and Heavenly authorities and remain under God’s umbrella. Even Moses was denied entrance into the Promise Land because he had withdrawn himself from under God’s authority throughout his life’s journey. Joshua, filled by God’s spirit, would be the authority God used to build a nation. (Pause for Thought: Read Deuteronomy 33:51-52; 34:4,9)
I often wonder how this story might have ended for Moses and the Israelites who first left Egypt had Moses remained under his authorities’ umbrella, and not killed the Egyptian out of his own arrogance. I often wonder about our children’s journey and ending in this life as they serve their authorities, including the Most-High Authority—God our Father. (Pause for Thought: Is there something or someone causing your children distress? Have you given your children a time and place to appeal to you for advice, and if appropriate, your correction/solution to the matter? What/Who will you pray about with your children this week?)
