And Moses...complained!?

I am back.  I seem to have gotten slightly lost in the the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life.  I have recently transitioned to a new work schedule which has me starting work at 6 pm and getting off work around 4 am.  I will admit it is a very inconvenient shift as far as having quality time with the family.  Since this is the first week of it after about 5 years working the 6 am to 2 pm or a similar variant schedule, it has been pretty difficult to coax my body into a sleep pattern which results in a feeling of being rested.

I was trying to word that paragraph carefully, as to not come off as complaining.  I am trying my best to not be a grumbler or complainer.  I do not believe the old adage that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and tend to lean towards believing that "the squeaky wheel gets replaced."  I value my job and understand the power of words to even subconsciously set the tone for others.  As a supervisor, I must maintain a positive attitude in hopes of positively influencing those entrusted to my leadership.

Today as I was loading up my daily reading in the Bible (yes, I tend to read online since it is convenient to me) at Bible Gateway, there is a feature on the home page which has a verse for the day.  Today's verse was Philippians 2:14-16:

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. {ESV}

This stood out to me since, as I have stated, I am working on my attitude.  My daily reading cycle in the plan I am using (chronologically through the ESV) currently has me in Exodus, particularly the initial calling of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt.  With the verse of the day still on my mind, I was re-reading a couple days back to refocus on the grand scheme before moving into today's reading.  I came to an interesting conclusion:  During Moses's initial call and stuttering steps to obey God's commands, he complained to God about what God wanted him to do.  A LOT.

Here are some early examples (and I can't help but hear it in a whining voice like a child unhappy with his task, all it lacks is a "but I don't wanna..."):

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” Exodus 4:1 ESV


But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Exodus 4:10 ESV

But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Exodus 4:13 ESV

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23 ESV

But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” Exodus 6:12 ESV

But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” Exodus 6:30 ESV

This is a picture of many of us.  We come to a crucial point in our lives where we need to see God as big enough to take care of what He is requiring from us.  Ours is not to reason why, or to grumble, or to complain, or to doubt.  Ours is to trust.  Completely.  That He IS ABLE.   As I was closing out the last bits of my reading for the day, I found the key verse for this time in Moses's life and for those of us in a turmoil of faith or doubt.  Those of us besieged with worry about the How.  Get ready for it, for it is powerful.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14 ESV

We need to stop asking questions, or complaining about the answers we have been given.  We just need to be quiet and trust that the Lord is fighting for us.  Do what He tells you to do.  The battle IS His.

2013 Goals Check
Read chronologically through the ESV
I am on track based on the plan I am using.  I have read through the Bible from Gen 1:1 to Exodus 14 so far.  I am trying to stay consistent and not get ahead and definitely not to get behind.

2,013 miles in 2013 for Hope House challenge
Since I ran the 13.1 last Saturday, I have not run.  (Here come the excuses) I have been tired from the transition to this new shift, and have been dealing with a flair up of the Peripheral Neuropathy side effcts from my recent chemo poisoning.  Neither is a valid excuse, and tomorrow I plan to get out and hit at least 3 miles.  Without counting what I plan on tomorrow, I am about 14 miles down from the pace I need to hit the 1,000 miles running portion of the challenge.  Still awaiting warmer weather and hopefully a change of venue before beginning to tackle the bicycling portion of the remainder, but if things go according to (MY) plan, I will be back to teaching and would like to bike commute daily when the weather appears to be supportive of it (which is most every day).