God calls Moses to lead his people
Bible Accent: Moses leads the people
Saint for Today: St. Drausius
God calls Moses to lead his people
Moses had been out watching the sheep of Jethro, the priest of Midian and his father-in-law, all day. He led them across the desert toward Horeb, which is called “the mountain of God.” A typical work day of tending sheep was about to change into a day filled with wonder for Moses.
Not far away from where he was, Moses saw figure inside of a bush that was on fire. He was amazed to discover that, even though the bush was burning, it was not harmed by the fire. “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” Then the figure inside of the fire called out.
“Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am,” answered Moses.
“Come no nearer!” commanded the voice. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Moses immediately took off his sandals and set them on the ground. “I am the God of your father,” the voice said, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”
Moses was so frightened his legs shook, and he covered his face because he did not feel worthy to even look toward God. But the Lord quickly reassured Moses that he did not have to be afraid.
“I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with mild and honey . . .Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
Moses did not expect God to say that to him. He did not feel capable of doing what the Lord has just told him to do. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?”
“I will be with you,” God told him.
“But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God said, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
Exodus 3
Q&A
1. What did Moses notice about the bush?
2. What did God want Moses to do?
Bible Accent: Moses leads the people
Moses was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He went before Pharaoh and demanded that people be set free. Pharaoh refused and God sent a series of plagues on Egypt.
Finally Pharaoh let the Israelites go. However, he sent his army to kill them before they could get very far. God was watching over his people and he sent a great wind to part the Red Sea so that the Israelites could cross the river bed on dry land. When the army reached the sea, the waters returned to their normal depth.
The Israelites spent the next 40 years wandering in the desert. As God tested their faith, they tested God’s patience. Finally the people reached Canaan, the promised land, the place that God said would be theirs. But Moses was not able to enter it. He had done what God had asked him to do.
Saint for Today: St. Drausius
Drausius (d. 674) was an excellent student and a respected scholar. He studied under St. Anseric, Bishop of Soissons, and was appointed as archdeacon. When Bishop Bettolin retired, Drausius was named as his successor. He demonstrated skills as a leader and his preaching and teaching brought many people to the knowledge of Christ.
Even though Drausius suffered many physical ailments, he fasted on a regular basis. He worked to establish two houses for religious, one for men and one for women, hoping that the prayers of these faithful people would bring God’s blessings on the community.
Building churches and religious structures was an important part of Drausius’ life. He built a monastery at Rethondes and a nunnery at Soissons. He also built Notre-Dame des Soissons and two smaller chapels.
We remember him on March 7.
