Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 81:5 (New Living Translation)

5 He (God) made it a law for Israel
when he attacked Egypt to set us free.

This sentence is part of a few sentences where the writer urges the people to praise God. The writer concludes with the “why” of praising: because God attacked Egypt to set the people free from slavery.

And how did God attack Egypt? God sent Moses. Trumpets blast, orchestra comes to a crescendo, and Charlton Heston enters with muscles and a flowing beard. Right? (youngsters don’t know Charlton Heston by name, but if you see enough old movies you will get the picture)

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Yes, God sent Moses to Egypt as an attack to free the people. Moses was a “has been.” He used to be important, but was booted out of the palace to wander the wastelands. Whatever happened to Moses? Forty years later he was tending sheep in the mountains by himself. He wasn’t even good enough to manage his father-in-law’s farming business. Just watch the sheep and try not to mess it up.

And Moses had a stick. Just an old stick picked up off the ground.

This is how God attacked mighty Egypt. One has been old man with a stick. And of course it worked.

There is a song about how God moves in mysterious ways to perform His wonders. True song. Unbelievable, but I better believe it.