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Give me the understanding. . . and Lord have mercy!

I was reading my daily Bible reading today and read how God had given Moses the instruction to go back to Egypt (Exodus 3 & 4). Moses questions the Lord, repeatedly, and each time is given a firm answer. He came up with some lame excuses to avoid doing what God was instructing him to do. God gave him specific instructions and made a way, despite Moses' fears and questions.  He wanted this done! So, Moses resolves to do what he's been asked, packs the family up and heads out.  But somewhere along the way, something happens.  They stop for the night and the Lord has suddenly had it with Moses and decides to kill him.  What happened?!  In verse 23, God is telling him what to say and then only one verse later, He's furious with Moses.  What did Moses do?  Was it his attitude?  Was it all the complaining and questioning? Was he too slow to get on the road? Even when he was in the process of obeying God, the Lord became angry at him to the point of wanting to kill him.

When I read that, I didn't understand.  But the more I think about it, maybe I can relate. . . How many times have I told my kids to do something and they questioned me?  Sometimes, I have to tell them over and over to do something and then when they finally begin to do what I have asked, they have rotten attitudes.  By then, I'm angry and recognize the need to punish them.  We've been teaching the boys that delayed obedience is often the same as disobedience.

Notice how I brought up the kids in this scenario?  Because, it couldn't be me that's done things like this when the Lord has given me instruction.  Surely, I haven't been like Moses and hesitated. How many times have I questioned His instruction and put off what He was asking me to do? Or obeyed, but did it with a lousy attitude? How many times has He had GREAT mercy on me despite my hesitation? Can you relate?

M nature, much like my children and Moses, is to want to know how or why. I don't always understand why the Lord does things He does. And I don't always understand why He asks certain things of us. But, I do know that if I trust Him and don't put stock in my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), that He will direct me  - and He's never led me into anything and then left me.  He didn't do it to Moses and He won't do it to me or to you.  Thankfully His mercy is new every morning - and hopefully, we can learn to obey when He says to obey!

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