IDENTITY
IN CRISIS
Part
two of four in Trusting God series
Exodus
2:12: “Glancing this way and that and
seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
The name Moses in Hebrew sounds like “drawing out”. His Egyptian mother (Pharaoh’s daughter)
named him how she found him—drawn out from the river. Moses was pampered by two caregivers as he
grew up in Pharaoh’s household.
His own Hebrew mother became his nursemaid. She made sure that he knew his Israeli heritage;
that Israeli blood coursed through his veins.
She raised him to love the children of Israel.
Yet his very un-Egyptian-like attitude conflicted in
someone who also was being raised as heir to the throne of Egypt! He grew up a proud Egyptian. As the only son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he had
every opportunity. He was educated Egyptian. He ate the best foods and wore the most
expensive clothes.
While his heart bathed in both Egyptian and Israeli cultures,
outwardly, he looked like Egyptian royalty.
One day, Moses was stopped in his tracks. He watched an Egyptian unjustly beat an
Israeli slave. His heart recoiled. He was confused, unsure how to react. Until
that moment, Moses’ buried conflicting emotions he processed while growing up
surfaced with a vengeance.
Now, he looked “this way and that” seeing himself in
neither identity. Who is Moses? Is he Egyptian or Israeli? (Exodus 2:11-12).
He “looked this way and that” before deciding. He looked first toward his Egyptian fellowman
who rightfully beat a slave, then toward his kinsman being unfairly beaten—who
screamed out for justice in Moses’ heart.
His
compassion for the beaten man won. He
killed the Egyptian. Finally, as a grown
man, he was tested to choose which identity would decide his fate.
His action not only decided his fate, but would also define
his life.
Moses chose his kinsman!
His identity was finally sealed as an Israeli.
Take
Home Nugget
There is an expression
in Judaism, “In the place where there is no man, be a man.” This means that everyone must choose. Everyone must decide to either stand for what
is right—or not.
If no one is doing what is right, we MUST assume that
role.
Whenever we haven’t taken a stand on something, each of
us must choose for himself an identity.
Eventually, everyone must choose a side.
How will you choose that defines your life?
Holy Father, Life can be very confusing,
and people can be so bitter toward one another!
Please help me to choose a side—the right side—where I can be sure that
You’re right there with me. Thank You, I
pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
J.D. Griffith
The latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:
To
order “Meet Guardian Archangels” click here
Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment