Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’”
Today’s scripture has got me thinking about “The Blind Men and the Elephant,” a folktale from India that I often used in the classroom to teach about perspective and remaining aware that “We don’t know what we don’t know.” I encourage you to look it up if you are unfamiliar.
Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”
Like the blind men in the tale, like Pharaoh in this scripture, I am guilty of steadfastly adhering to the belief that my perception IS reality, when, in truth, my perception is just that–MY perception. It shapes my reality, but there is often much that I don’t know.
Exodus 5:3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”
Precious Savior, Moses was convinced that he could not do what You were calling him to do. Pharaoh was convinced that getting back to work was all the Israelites needed to do. I know that there are many, many things that I have convinced myself are true, when, in fact, they are just my perceptions. Help me, help each of us, to cling to Your truths and not our faulty perceptions. Amen.
Exodus 5:4 But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!”
Have a blessed day.