exodus – onewhoponders

Pondering for Thursday, March 26, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 131and 132; Evening, Psalms 140 and 142

Exodus 7:25 to 8:19; 2^nd Corinthians 3:7 to 18; Mark 10:17 to 31:

“The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals.” (Exodus 8:18)

The magicians of Pharaoh were able to replicate the “staff – to- snake” action even though Moses’ snake destroyed those of Pharaoh’s magicians; and they could also produce the frogs as God did through Moses. But when God raised up the finer creatures of creation, the gnats, the magicians were lacking. All of creation comes from God. No exception. The gnats remind me of the small and insignificant status of human beings in the great expanse of the universe except that God in Christ Jesus elevated our status by being one of us.

To my knowledge, no other creature on earth has reasoned with God, only human beings. Through Moses, God has tried to reason with Pharaoh several times to release human beings, but he would not. So God showed Pharaoh that the God of Moses is indeed the God of all beings, human and non-human alike. And all humanity, regardless of where we live, are connected to God our Creator through Christ Jesus our Savior, not necessarily to be Christian, but to have a divine link.

While we are geographically disconnected from one another, we are Spiritually and prayerfully connected with one another, in and through God. Moses spoke with God for the relief of his people even though it was not something he wanted to do from the beginning. I ponder that it may not have been just Pharaoh whom Moses feared; he may have feared having a continued close relationship with God whom he just met, and who was pushing him far out of his comfort zone. We know deep down in our hearts that a continued prayerful relationship with God will push us past our comfort zone. Unlike our Lord Jesus, we have never been physically connected with God, although God intercedes on our physical behalf as is often requested by us in our prayers for ourselves and others.

Our God is not a God of convenience. God is not “use now and forget.” We are in this prayer relationship with God forever and we should show God our thanks for even being alive. My preaching is not so much a job. It is a calling from my own spiritual burning bush. What I am called to say is not always pleasant to ponder but none the less, needs to be said. The Spirit of God is eternal and moves among us always. This is the Spirit we should listen to and heed its Divine direction. The last verse of our 1^st Corinthian reading for today says of the Spirit; “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2^nd Corinthians 3:18)

Today we remember Harriet Monsell, Monastic (1883)), and her information may be found at: PHarriet Monsell

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray: A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP p. 832)

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pondering for Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 5^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122, 123; Evening, Psalms 124, 125, 126;

Exodus 5:1-6:1; 1^st Corinthians 14:20 to 33 and 39 to 40; Mark 9:42 to 50:

“Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?” (Exodus 5:22)

Moses is caught between the rock and the hard place. His demanding of Pharaoh to release the people of Israel in order that they may go and worship God has caused Pharaoh to be even more severe with the Israelites. Now he will not provide for them the material for making the bricks but also holding the same expectation of quantity of bricks as before. Moses feels trapped. And now Pharaoh’s army is coming for them after letting them go.

God has not changed. Today God will engage us in activities that will inconvenience us and cost us time, and often money. But like with Moses, God will not abandon us. People who don’t know or can’t sense God in their lives will only hold you responsible for what is happening (or not happening). They don’t want to hear our “God-talk.” They want us to get out of their way. But we must endure no matter the costs.

I often tell people this is how we know a path is from God. First, it is inconvenient. Second, God takes you out of your comfort zone. Third, there is the issue of time and or money (often both). And fourth, the act is for the benefit of someone else, not you. Hey, God has not changed. Just ask Moses. God is unchangeable. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But know this, God will not abandon you, in this life, or the next.

Today we remember Osscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, and the Martyrs of El Salvador (March 24, 1980), and his information may be found at: Oscar Romero

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray:

Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all that is, we give you thanks and praise for your continual love and providence for us, and over us. You walk with us and guide us into right actions for the benefit of the whole human race and for all creation. Help us we pray, to be steadfast in our faith like Moses as we often encounter resistance to your loving ways. This dear God, we ask in your most Holy Name, Amen.

Pondering for Friday, March 20, 2026

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 4^th Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32;

Exodus 2:1 to 22; 1^st Corinthians 12:27 to 13:3; Mark 9:2 to 13:

“He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.” (Exodus 2: 20)

Moses has killed an Egyptian and has been exposed by an angry Hebrew man, maybe even the same Hebrew man whom he spared the beating. He is on the run. Just as he got in trouble for saving a man from a beating, he later defends women from bullying shepherds. Perhaps these are the traits that God saw in Moses and therefore called him to the Burning Bush, and thus enlisted Moses to do more work. I’m just pondering here.

Moses is invited to “Break Bread” in the home of Reuel and later marries his daughter (Zipporah). Some translations say he was invited to a meal. I like the term “Break Bread.” I also like, and admire, the courage of Moses. He continues in his way of courage even though he is on the run because of his troubles in Egypt. God notices his courage and righteousness and will make good use of his character for the benefit of the enslaved Israelites.

The father of the girls also recognized the goodness of Moses and wanted to welcome him into his home. Moses possessed traits the father hadn’t seen in the local men who would rather bully women at the well. Moses didn’t back down when trouble came, be it his Hebrew kin, the Egyptians, except for the pharaoh himself who could have him killed, or even the mean spirited shepherds in a foreign land. With Moses, there was a difference between right and wrong. So the same should be with us as well. When we see an injustice happening, we have a moral obligation to intervene.

Today we remember Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop and Missionary (March 20, 687), and his information may be found at: Cuthbert

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O God, the Author of justice and peace, incline our hearts and wills to stand in the breach where we witness injustice taking place. Give us the courage to stand with those who cannot defend themselves. As we partner with the vulnerable, let their oppressors see your presence at work in us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.