Morning Devotions: 3/27/10

Exodus 2

God has invisible hands.

We don't see God's name mentioned anywhere in today's reading until the very end. But, the work of God's hands is very noticeable, because God's fingerprints are all over it.

Fingerprint 1: The text begins just following Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew children in an effort to thwart the prosperity of the Israelites. You might expect chapter two to begin with a description of the cries of fear, grief and anger at the death of innocent children. Instead, the chapter begins with the description of a marriage and the birth of a boy. Like a potter, God's hands mold and shape fear, grief and anger into the gifts of faith, hope and love.

Fingerprint 2: The rescue of Moses' from the river and his sister's suggestion of a woman to nurse him is simply miraculous. Such sacrificial love and faithfulness are quite noticeably the handy work of God.

Fingerprint 3: Moses grows up as an entitled, sovereign prince of Egypt. Once he realizes his roots, he takes pity on his people, but he is arrogant and foolish. He kills a man, and then must flee in desperation for his life into the desert. It's from despair that God so often molds his most beautiful work. In Moses' desperation God introduces him to Jethro. Jethro is a Midian priest. As descendants of Abraham, but not Jacob, the Midianites were relatives of the Israelites. They believed in the God of Abraham. Jethro was a priest. Jethro, like Abraham and his descendants, was also a shepherd. It was no coincidence that Moses winds up with Jethro in the desert. It was the work of God's leading and guiding hand. God took this arrogant, entitled Egyptian prince and with Jethro's mentoring, molded Moses into a humble Hebrew shepherd.

God's fingerprints are all over your life too. You may not be able to see Him, but he is there with you. Like a potter, with a loving, gentle touch he has been molding and shaping your life all along. You cant see his hands, but he does leave his fingerprints behind. Can you spot them in your life?

O Lord, my God, you are so awesome! The works of your hands are simply miraculous. Help me to trust you through all the events of my life. Lead me. Guide me. Mold me. Use me. In Jesus' name. Amen.