Contemplative Bible Reading

Exodus 6:9 (English Standard Version)

Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

Moses is speaking to his relatives, the Israelites who are slaves in Egypt. They have been in Egypt 400 years. For the most recent few generations, they have been under harsh and forced labor.

Their spirit was broken. Their discouragement was something few of us today understand.

With a broken spirit came the inability to hear a messenger from God.

I don’t have a broken spirit. I know some persons who do. Some of us know persons who have a broken spirit. Clogged ears often come with a broken spirit today as 3,000 years ago.

Pray for healed and healthy spirits. Open ears and hearts usually come with them. With open ears come great possibilities for hearing and accepting the Good News that changes lives.