Deuteronomy 18 it's Moses again

Moses is such a central figure in the story of YHWH - God's relationship with humankind that we not only have lots of stories about him in our lectionary, but there are multiple sides to each story.  Just as George Washington or John Adams or Abraham Lincoln's names are invoked when political/governmental/foreign relations questions are raised, so too, Moses is the go-to guy when themes from the Old Testament come up.

He a versatile figure: reluctant leader, miraculous birth, contact with and marriage to a foreigner, poor speaker with a less brilliant but silver tongued brother, a murderer, the one who met with God face to face, the bringer of the Law, the prophet above all others  (until Jesus).

So, with a little re-reading, a creative student of scripture could use Moses to represent or to introduce a wide range of topics. 

This week, it is prophecy.  Poor little Samuel had to contend with the compulsion to speak what the Lord puts in his mouth.  It is speak or die (well, most of the time.  Perhaps just be really miserable, but that's not how Jeremiah puts it,  "your word is a fire in my belly and I cannot keep it in"  look in Jer 20).

Therefore, to bear the word of the Lord to others is a burden, a weight, and one that cannot be ignored.  Amos, the prophet, when confronted by the King of the North for being a foreigner, indicated that he wasn't doing this because it was fun....he was a farmer, and as soon as he said what needed to be said he was going home.

Most people of faith can blur the lines around any message from the Lord.  They can turn their deaf ear.  They can take off their eyeglasses so to dim their sight.  They can walk away and put it on their To Do list for another day.  So, although they often think that knowing exactly what the Lord is saying would be a hoot, when confronted with a taste of God reality, they hesitate.

Not so the prophet.  For many preachers it is the same.  The Word is like a fire burning within and although we might try to keep it in, we cannot.

So, I am sure there was little rejoicing around the dinner table when little Johnny came home and told Mom and Dad, "I want to be a prophet when I grow up."  It is a profession that does not generally make many friends.