Daily Bread

FLUFF AND OTHER STUFF

G-et into God's Word

Exodus 6:1-9

'Then the Lord said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." God also said to Moses, "I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord, I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord .' " Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. ' 

R-eflect into God's Word

When someone was seeking our advice and don't listen to it, what should we do?

It's irritating, isn't it? As if you're saying that they should've been asking first if they don't listen to it. And sometimes they end is to think that maybe they had their own perspective and that they only seek others' opinions just to weigh their actions.

Moses also in experience to this, spoke to the people of Israel but they didn't listen because their spirits were broken and their lives were hard (v.9).

Jn this guide, David Roper the author share this quotation of Winnie the Pooh, "if the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. it may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."

Just what like Winnie the pooh says, it maybe has that fluff in someone's ear that's why they didn't listen - and that fluff was because they're broken and discouraged.

The word "discouragement" in the Hebrew text is literally "short of breath," The result of their bitterness and enslavement in Egypt. That being the case, Israel's reluctance to listen to Moses' instruction called for understanding and compassion not censure.

When someone we advice was like the Israelites, maybe we can apply what Winnie the pooh says, "be patient." Maybe they were discouraged and broken and God is in the process for them to open not just their ear also their hearts.

O-bey to transform

How is it important to you the advice of others?
And have you also examine yourself in seeking others' advice?

W-restle in Prayer

God, like the Israelites we're sometimes deaf to your message for us may you open our hearts and ears to listen not just to the people you use to advise us but especially to listen to your voice.
Help us to be patient in giving advice and mind them to open their ears and hearts in our prayer.



#ListenToGod

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©ODB,Vol.27,Pg.89

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/EXO.6.1-9