Drawn Out Of The Water
A reading for Tuesday, September 27, 2016: Exodus 2:1-10.
"Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman." That's how the story of Moses begins...
Moses was born out of the house of Levi, from a Levite father and mother. The tribe of Levi had a very specific, unique function among the twelve tribes. They were the ones charged with leading and servicing the worship of God.
All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. Those that did not have an official role up front, mediating sacrifices and leading prayers were in charge of setting up the tent of meeting and managing the furniture and other elements. It was a sacred duty, and each Levite was prepared ritually by the shaving of their hair and purification by water. The relationship between God and God's people in many ways was managed and mediated by the Levites.
So perhaps then it's no surprise that when Moses, named by Pharaoh's daughter because "I drew him out of the water," grows up he claims this important role for himself. Even through the strangest of circumstances as Moses grows up in the palace as the prince of Egypt, the promise of God to the Levites that Moses would help mediate the relationship of God with God's people never goes away.
In each of us there is a promise of God. There is a gift we have been given that is unique to us and a way that gift is intended to serve God and the kingdom of God. Even if/when the circumstances of our lives have made it hard to still see that gift, it remains. Through the story of Moses, we can remember our baptism as those "drawn out of the water" and take our place using the gifts and the promises that God has given.
There's no question that Moses was special. There's also no question that we are too!
"Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman." That's how the story of Moses begins...
Moses was born out of the house of Levi, from a Levite father and mother. The tribe of Levi had a very specific, unique function among the twelve tribes. They were the ones charged with leading and servicing the worship of God.
All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. Those that did not have an official role up front, mediating sacrifices and leading prayers were in charge of setting up the tent of meeting and managing the furniture and other elements. It was a sacred duty, and each Levite was prepared ritually by the shaving of their hair and purification by water. The relationship between God and God's people in many ways was managed and mediated by the Levites.
So perhaps then it's no surprise that when Moses, named by Pharaoh's daughter because "I drew him out of the water," grows up he claims this important role for himself. Even through the strangest of circumstances as Moses grows up in the palace as the prince of Egypt, the promise of God to the Levites that Moses would help mediate the relationship of God with God's people never goes away.
In each of us there is a promise of God. There is a gift we have been given that is unique to us and a way that gift is intended to serve God and the kingdom of God. Even if/when the circumstances of our lives have made it hard to still see that gift, it remains. Through the story of Moses, we can remember our baptism as those "drawn out of the water" and take our place using the gifts and the promises that God has given.
There's no question that Moses was special. There's also no question that we are too!
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