Friday, November 20, 2015

Today’s Reading  |  Exodus 2:1–10  
Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” (NRSV)

Reflection
I am a planner. I like to think through what is going to happen, make lists, and follow the plan. But just as often as I make a plan or finish a list, something else comes up to change everything.

I have so much sympathy for Moses’ mother in this story, putting her infant son in a basket, praying that someone would take him in. That was not her plan for her son. And yet it was what was needed so that her son could live and carry out his destiny to save his people. She had to have the strength to let go of her plan and trust in the greater (but unknown to her) plan.

I struggle with that. When life gets in the way of my plans I tend to fight harder to try and get things back on track. Sometimes what really needs to happen is to let go of one’s own expectations and leave oneself open for greater possibilities. It is terrifying really, to give up a known quantity that you can fight for, in order to be available when God’s plan comes through.

Prayer
God, give me the strength to let go of my expectations. Open my heart and mind to the greater possibilities through faith in you. Let your vision play through in my life, and may my feet follow your path for me. Amen.

Written by Katie Patterson, Junior High and Youth Mission Coordinator

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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