Holding
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Zipporah: trials of a wife to a Prophet
Dear friend
What would it be like to be married to a prophet? Perhaps we imagine a life of diligent faithfulness, of unstinting service, of miracles and of blessed happiness. This may be so in some cases, but the example of Zipporah the wife of Moses provides a salutary lesson about the assumed domestic bliss of a man of God.
It all started well. An immigrant, Moses, stepped in to help some young women who appeared to be victims of bullying, if not worse than that. The women's father wanted to meet the man who had been so helpful to his daughters in their time of need, and the rest as they say is history. The culmination of this otherwise chance situation is recorded in the Old Testament, Exodus 2:21.
21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
How romantic; a chivalrous foreigner impresses your father and you end up married to him. Then, after a few years living with your family, he takes you back to his homeland, as described in Exodus 4:19, 20.
19 And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt ...
So far this is not very out of the ordinary for the times. But the scriptures also record a particular issue related to Moses' seemingly strange religious practices. It caused Zipporah to do something drastic out of desperation. The motivations for her actions are disputed by theologians but Exodus 4:25 graphically describes the scene.
25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
This incident certainly does not paint a picture of demure domesticity. Zipporah felt she had to do something. It was drastic but it did resolve a very difficult family situation (in a typically Old Testament way).
Moses had a full and eventful life, that's for sure. Zipporah would be at his side, but rarely even mentioned. Eventually, after a period back with her father in Midian while Moses led the wandering Israelites, the family was happily reunited. I wonder how Zipporah looked back on her life with Moses? They went through a lot together, much of it no doubt pleasing, but not all.
I hope we take time occasionally to appreciate the sacrifices of the families of God's chosen servants; Church leaders and others who are called on to dedicate their lives to doing God's work. These families often have to endure more than we know to allow their spouse to serve. I pray for God to bless and support them as they allow and help their beloved partners to support us.
Samuel.
Monday, 17 April 2017
Yesterday, today and forever
Dear friend
God is not bound by time the way we are. There is a hint as to His prolonged perspective in various verses of scripture. For example, He has a very different view of what constitutes "yesterday". This is illustrated in the Old Testament, Psalm 90:2, 4.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
...
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past ...
We simply cannot look back on a millennium in the way He does. To us who are currently bound by earthly rotations a thousand years past is a huge piece of history. To him it is "as yesterday". Think how much we could achieve if our yesterday lasted a thousand years.
Of course for a Being who operates "from everlasting to everlasting", that ratio of one day to 365,250 days, is a trifling order of magnitude when compared to forever. And this is only the beginning of the Lord's use of yesterdays to teach us of His eternal nature. A common concept of His continuation is typified by a verse in the Book of Mormon, Mormon 9:9.
9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?
I draw great comfort and confidence from the thought that God is perfectly consistent, completely reliable, unchangingly amazing. He is the same person without variableness; no mood swings, no bad days. We find Him always loving, always patient, always ready to bless us, always open armed. From such an One we can be assured of His unwavering commitment to our happiness and wellbeing.
He is without doubt a Being not restricted by temporal terra firma. This is majestically confirmed in Doctrine and Covenants 35:1, 2.
1 Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.
2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
I hope we will always retain in remembrance the eternal greatness of God. He is as wonderful today as he was yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, ad infinitum.
Samuel.
Sunday, 16 April 2017
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When holding opinions holds us back
Dear friend
There is the epic story in the scriptures about the masterful Prophet Elijah and his frustration at King Ahab. Ahab had turned almost all of Israel to paganistic idolatry, including the worship of Baal and the establishment of those infamous "groves" that were no more than an ecclesiastical excuse for debauched decadence.
Elijah set up a spectacular contest; between himself on behalf of the True God of Israel, versus Baal as represented by his priests. It would be Elijah alone verses 450 Baalists; a really unfair contest (when you think who had got Elijah's back). To this moxie mismatch was invited no less than the entire population of Israel.
Before the battle of the bonfires and subsequent perishing of the priests, Elijah posed a question to those who were meant to be God's chosen people. It is found in the Old Testament, 1 Kings 18:21.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
The question was an incisive interrogation, cutting to the hearts of the hearers. The Israelites wore their chosenness like a chain of exclusivity. But at the same time they wanted the wanton. Their silence spoke volumes.
On this matter of having a split loyalty, the Prophet Hosea similarly sermonised in
Hosea 10:2.
2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
I think the general principle - about the dilemma of decisions in relation to moral choices - is simply presented by the pragmatist James, as found in the New Testament, James 1:8.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
So we might ask ourselves, "Am I sitting with instability on any fences in my choosing between right or wrong?" "Am I faithfully following the Father, or do I desire the devil's inducements?" We need to think deeply about these sorts of questions because the devil might have already buried the uncomfortable answers far from our mental moral compass.
I hope we can recognise any recalcitrance that might have muddled our pursuit of righteousness. I pray we will choose, without delay, to be dedicated disciples when faced with "opinions". And once we commit to the right option, we stick to it and don't look back with any lingering longing.
Samuel.
Saturday, 21 January 2017
Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Monday, 16 January 2017
Sunday, 15 January 2017
Friday, 13 January 2017
Jolly good fellowship
Dear friend
If you call someone a fellow it means you share common cause with them, which can include: a job; an interest; a journey; or a religious affiliation. A word with Old Norse and Old English origins, fellow can mean partner and comrade. Fellow is used in scripture too, particularly in terms of fellowship.
On the miraculous Day of Pentecost the Spirit was poured out in abundance to the convincing and converting of many to the Church. Their fellowship came by following the established protocols of the gospel, as recorded in the New Testament, Acts 2:41, 42.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
A short time later the Apostle Paul clarified whose fellowship believers are actually accepting, as found in 1 Corinthians 1:9.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Entering and enduring in faith-based fellowship can cause considerable collective conviviality in the convocation, as exemplified in the Book of Mormon, Helaman 6:3.
3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.
Perhaps the fundamentals of fellowship are best summed up by Paul, who adjusted the word slightly to highlight the benefits of belonging; from Ephesians 2:19, 20.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
I hope we feel the felicity of fellow followers. I pray we gain the joy of belonging among the believers.
Samuel.
Thursday, 12 January 2017
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
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Thursday, 5 January 2017
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