This must have been how Moses felt in Exodus 5. I mean, he debates with God about going back to Egypt to begin with because he's sure the Lord needs to send someone else to confront Pharoah about letting the Israelites go free (see Exodus 4:13-17). Then when he gets to Egypt and actually delivers God's message to Pharoah, everything explodes in his face! The Hebrews aren't freed; their burden of slave labor actually becomes more intense. Now, instead of proclaiming Moses as their hero, they're really ticked-off at him for making their lives worse (see Exodus 5:19-23)!
But God has a plan. In reality, everything about the story of the plagues sort of makes this point in one way or another: God is positioning people in the right place for Him to display His power in the most remarkable and memorable ways possible. Just look at God's first words to Moses after he complains about the fact that everything seems to be getting worse as opposed to better: "Now you are going to to see what I will do to Pharoah: he will let [the Israelites] go because of My strong hand; he will drive them out of his land because of My strong hand" (Exodus 6:1b, HCSB).
So be encouraged today. Yes, sometimes things do appear to get worse before they get better, but if God's called you to do something, He has a plan. He's working out everything according to His power. Proverbs 16:4 says, "The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose - even the wicked for the day of disaster" (HCSB).
It's true: There's no sunrise without a night. There's no moutain peak without a valley. And there's no empty tomb without a cross.
God knows what He's doing. He isn't tyring to "figure things out;" He's accomplishing His purpose so all people may see and know that He alone is the one, true God!
I know we are in Exodus but if I may, I would like to switch gears. I was reading Luke 9:28-36 a few days ago and I am still pondering its significance and meaning. I don’t have an exact question but many. The passage as a whole confuses me. Why talk to Moses and Elijah about his departure? Why the face transformation? Was all of this to prove to Peter, John and James that he’s the real deal?
ReplyDeleteHello Aaron,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you, and once again, great questions. Let me see if I can take a shot at giving you some answers.
First, the consensus as to why Luke tells us Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah is that these two men serve as figure-heads of the Old Testament. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the prophets. One of the points Luke makes here is that Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets as God's Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Second, it's interesting that Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about His "departure" or death. In other words, the word "departure" is a euphemism which basically means it's a pleasant way of referring to something that is typically unpleasant to talk about.
Also (and perhaps more importantly), the Greek word translated "departure" is the word from which we get the English word "Exodus". Of course, since we're reading Exodus right now, we understand this is the major event in the entire Old Testament picturing how God delivers His people from bondage/slavery by His miraculous power. Now we learn from the New Testament that Jesus is the One who delivers us from "bondage/slavery" by His power through His death and resurrection. So there's a double meaning here with the word "departure". For sure it speaks of Jesus' death in a more pleasant way, and it also speaks of how Jesus' death provides an "exodus" for us from the bondage of sin through His death and resurrection if we will repent and beleive in Him alone for salvation.
Third, I believe you hit the proverbial "nail on the head" Aaron with your words. The fact that Christ is transformed before Peter, James, and John (both His face and His clothing shining) reveals not only to His three disciples present but also to us today that He is the Son of God. You see, Christ is absolutely unique. He's the God-Man - completely God and completely Man. While we see His humanity in various ways like when He rested beside a well because He was weary from His journey (see John 4:6), here we see His deity blaze forth in His transfiguration. As you put it so well, this proves He's "the real deal" to both those present at this time and to us today.
Okay, hopefully this helps and keep reading and growing! Blessings...