There's this little phrase that procedes Moses' murderous rage:
12 He looked all around, and WHEN HE DIDN'T SEE ANYONE he beat the Egyptian to death and hid the body in the sand.
Isn't it funny how our imagined anonymity can give us permission to do things we shouldn't and wouldn't do otherwise?
Unfortunatley, Moses was wrong about his stealth operation:
13When Moses went there the next day, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. He asked the one who started the fight, “Why are you beating another Hebrew?”
14The man asked, “Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought that everyone knew what he had done.
15When Pharaoh heard what Moses had done, he tried to have him killed.
So...
Maybe we should assume someone is always watching via security camera, or will check our internet history, email, cell phone records or credit card receipts.
(Not to mention that God is always watching.)
If we can't do what we're about to do without telling someone- we probably shouldn't do it at all.
6 comments:
I love the contrast in simplicity/complexity of this idea. It's part of a long list of no-brainer life practices we should all employ. Yet it is so difficult to fulfill routinely. Why is that?
There is absolute truth in behaving with the idea that God is always watching us. Yet it slips away from us so easily and so quickly. I wonder if God plants these simplistic ideas on how to do life right as a way for him to show how much he really cares. It's a great example of no matter how hard we try, we'll never be perfect in our follow through. It keeps us coming back to him for more. For forgiveness, understanding and a fresh start.
I am uncomfortable with emphasis on being watched by God as if he has his spyglass on us all the time. God has placed in us an internal mechanism we call shame. Moses already knew it was wrong just like Adam and Eve hiding from God after eating the apple knew what they did was wrong. What they were hiding from is their awe-full realization of "wrongness" or sin in them. It is a mega "I can't believe I just did that." So they ran and hid hoping to escape this knowledge of shame and separation.
In both cases, God pursues, not to say "I caught you" but to heal them of their shame and rejoin His community.
Thanks for your comment Anonymous! I appreciate your thoughtfulness and interaction.
I certainly don't mean to suggest that God is spying on us, waiting to bust us if we do wrong.
Also, I agree with you that God has given us a conscience and that his desire is to restore us when we fall.
However, the realization that I'm not God (and all that implies) should and does make me a bit uncomfortable (as you said).
That probably inculdes the idea that as a created being, my heavenly father is always aware of me- my physical position, actions and internal thoughts.
I choose to think of God as a loving parent who can't take His eyes off of me.
In my "adolescent" moments, it might serve as a loving reminder that could prevent me from further stupidity and as you said "awe-fullness" (good term).
We so often struggle with the ideas of our will verses God's will. Yeah, we'll mess up from time to time (God has already forgiven our sins), but if we continue to realize that we are accountable for what we choose (being watched), aren't we more apt to choose the right thing? I believe the importance is the willingness and effort to do the right thing.
Thank you for your clarification, Fred. God is omnipresent, omniscient, and sovereign over all of his creation. He is, as you suggested, pure Love. Regrettably, even though I know He is ever present, stupidity continues to raise its ugly head in my life!
The undercurrent that flows through this idea of doing right and avoiding wrong is the question: "Can we get if right no matter how willing or watchful we are? If we can, then what purpose does the cross of Christ serve? As Jesus said, and I paraphrase, only God is good.
Please continue to ask more of us in your teaching and at Crossroads. It elevates the dialogue. The mystery of Jesus Christ is challenging to communicate but His people know the Shepard's voice. And our teacher, the Holy Spirit, will inform us.
I like the idea that God is like a loving parent who just can't take His eyes off me. I think of my mom who is so excited to see me every time I come home, which I marvel over every time I go to see them. God's love is unfathomable. My tendency is to expect someone to spy on me, rather than be so in love with me that they can't get enough of me. So what do I do? I hide from the very one who wants to spend time with me and invest Himself in me. How stupid! Think of all the joy, forgiveness, and hope I could have received while I was instead hiding in the closet! I remember an incident in which I had done something wrong - I was sick about it and miserable. I was begging God to forgive me but was sure He never would. He told me, "tell Beth what you did." Beth was a friend, but also a strong advocate for God and courageous in challenging the sin she saw around her. I thought, "Oh no, I can't tell her." But I did what God said for me to do. The next day I went to Beth and told her what I had done. I steeled myself for her beratement. Instead, she said, "You know, I never realized the pressures you deal with every day. It must be really hard and I'm sorry I haven't been there for you. You are obviously broken up about what happened, and if there is any way I can help you, I will."
No berating. No chiding. Just a tender mercy that promised love and support. That was God, and He's amazing.
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