September 29, 2019, Numbers 14:10b – 20 – Post 2

VII.
“But Moses said to the Lord …. “ (Numbers 14:13-19)

At 14:11 we read, “And the Lord said to Moses, “How long … “”

Should we call this exchange a prayer, a conversation, a dialogue, two monologues?

You might pick one or two ways to describe the scene, but what I most want to call to your attention is Moses. And not just Moses but his passion in speaking with God the way he does here.

VIII.
Is it just here that Moses approaches God with such familiarity and honesty?

In Exodus 3 Moses asks God what is God’s name. In Exodus 4 Moses wonders aloud to God what can he say to the Hebrew people if they question that God has chosen and sent Moses to be an instrument of their deliverance. In Exodus 5 he asks God not only why God has mistreated the people but why he is being sent to the people. In Exodus 32 Moses asks God why he is so willing to display such wrath against the Hebrew people.

It seems it is ingrained in Moses’ character to ask questions. To even ask questions of God. It seems to be his character to defend folks who might deserve a better break, even if he is defending them against God.

IX.
Take a few moments to review your typical prayers.

Do they have something of the same passion that Moses’ approach to God shows time and time again in Scripture?

What might we learn about the kind of honesty we could pray with?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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