Highway to Holiness

August 2 Holy is…The LORD! Scripture Reading: Exodus 3 God’s holiness is demonstrated in mighty and miraculous ways throughout Moses’ life and the exodus of Israel. God’s all-encompassing greatness (“I AM WHO I AM,” Exodus 3:14) calls Moses into a Mission Impossible adventure that sets the course of history for God’s holy people. All that Yahweh is and all that Yahweh does through Moses, Aaron, Miriam, the priesthood of the Levites, and the rest of the tribes of Israel is because of Yahweh’s holy intent for a holy relationship with a holy people! The Apostle Peter reminds us, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10 NRSV). Yahweh’s mercy was extended to the Israelites, and they in turn were to extend mercy to others, even outsiders who wanted to worship Yahweh. The Old Testament declaration of Yahweh’s call to holiness in Israel was the precedent for a New Testament way of holy living for all children of God! As Moses was given instructions for his mission, he made all kinds of excuses for why he was not fit for the job. He couldn’t talk correctly; he was a nobody in the eyes of Israel, he doubted Yahweh’s plan and doubted that Israel would believe his message. The I AM again demonstrated miraculous signs with a staff, a snake, and a healing – a bit of a foretaste of things to come! Why would Moses question Yahweh when he had already been confronted with a burning bush and the identity of Yahweh? Perhaps Moses had not yet fully comprehended the magnitude of the Holy One of Israel. Yahweh was going to fulfill what He promised four centuries earlier, that Yahweh would keep the holy covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Holy Yahweh was about to do something so unprecedented that today we continue to marvel at the Exodus story and the central aspect of the Jewish Passover celebration. The human tendency is to doubt God’s Word when confronted with holy instructions. As Moses doubted, we are no different when God calls us to confront evil, turn from our wicked ways, repent, take up our cross and follow Jesus. Those holy instructions call for sacrifice and commitment which sometimes causes conflict and compromise. We must trust that God knows what God is doing and depend upon Him when we want to be independent by making our own decisions concerning our life journey and well-being. Moses did trust God, but God also gave Moses’ family and fellow sojourners of faith the power to obey the holy instructions. If God’s power was enough for Moses and Aaron, God’s power is enough for us! He will provide what we need when we need it! Reflection: When have you doubted God’s holy Word or instructions? What excuses have you made to resist God’s call to holiness in your life? What was the result? How can you identify with Moses and his resistance to lead? Has God ever called you to a Mission Impossible? Write your thoughts. Prayer: LORD God, Who is the Great I AM, help me to always obey Your holy Word and holy instructions, so that I will be Your holy vessel of honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen!