Verse of the day: Exodus
2:13-14 And when he went
out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the
one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14 Then he
said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as
you killed the Egyptian?”
Why
is it so difficult for us to get along as brothers and sisters in Christ? Jesus
told us that the world would know we are His by the way we love each other
(John 13:34-35). All too often, the testimony that the church has before the
unsaved world is that we are no different than they are when it comes to loving
each other and getting along in unity. Sadly, many Christians have even turned
to the world, the unsaved, to resolve matters that should be resolved within
the local church and amongst ourselves. 1 Corinthians 6 tells us that we should
not be taking our issues to the unrighteous for resolution. Moses, thinking
that his brethren understood that he was going to be the one that the Lord
would use to relieve their burden, tried to intervene and resolve a conflict
between two Israelites. The
offender’s response to Moses was a clear indication that they did not
understand that Moses would be the one used by God to lead them out of
oppression (Acts 7:25). However,
the outcome was not one that went favorably, most likely because of pride, and
stubbornness, on the part of the offender. Before this incident, Moses killed
an Egyptian who had been abusive toward one of his brethren (v. 11-12). Thinking
that no one had seen him, when he addressed the offending party, the response
was one of contention, and a refusal to correct a wrong that was committed
against a fellow Israelite. It is a sad commentary that in the midst of being
oppressed by the Egyptians, these two men who were on the receiving end of that
oppression could not peacefully resolve their differences. How sad when we see
that there is no difference today within the church. We suffer enough
persecution from outside the church without having persecution and quarrels come
from within the body. Romans 12:18 tells us, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably
with all men.” The offender, in his pride, and unwillingness to admit his
wrongdoing, confronted Moses, who was trying to be the peacemaker. The fact of
the matter is that this issue could have been settled in a peaceful manner,
even if the offender chose not to admit his wrongdoing. The offended party could
have simply accepting the wrong. We, as born again believers, must learn that
we do not always have to prove that we are right, even if the other person was
wrong in their actions. The Apostle Paul, in dealing with the Christians at
Corinth, and rebuking them for turning to the unsaved world, and suing each
other, asked them in 1 Corinthians 6:7, “Now therefore, it is already an utter
failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather
accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?”
I know there are some of us who are reading this and cringing because we would
want our “pound of flesh” if another Christian, or anyone else, did us wrong,
and we thought it unfair for them to get away with it. Why should we give up
our right to have justice? Why would we not insist on making the brother or
sister repent and admit their wrongdoing? Well, because God has already given
us instruction on how to handle one who has wronged us, and refuses to repent
of that wrong. Within the church there is a process outlined for us in Matthew
18:15-17 for resolving issues of Christians sinning against each other. We are
to be ready to forgive, and restore, but if they do not repent, then leave justice
to God (Roman 12:9-21). Sometimes we are the Moses of the situation, and in
being the peacemaker, we end up being the one that is verbally attacked, or the
one who ends up looking like the “bad guy”. Moses, in trying to do what was
right, ended up having to flee Egypt. However, this was not entirely a bad
thing. As a matter of fact, it turned out to be the best thing that could have
happened to Moses, as God used it to serve as a warning to him that Pharaoh
would find out about the murder he committed, and gave him time to flee and
save his life. Moses would spend another 40 years outside of Egypt as part of
his preparation to be used by God to lead His people out of slavery. When it is
all said and done, we must trust that whatever the immediate outcome, if we
choose peace, love, and humility, we will never go wrong before God when we
trust Him for the outcome. It is better to accept the wrongdoing, and keep our
testimony and unity intact, than to prove that we are right, but in the process
put a blemish on the Name of Christ, and the church.
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