In our Old Testament readings for Morning prayer we are following the story of Moses, I recently wrote about that amazing calling from the burning bush and reflected on Holy Ground.

Todays reading was somewhat longer Exodus 4:27-6:1 and it began with something vital to Moses relationship to both God and the Hebrew people held captive in Egypt:

Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

The situation in Egypt was bad and as we read on into chapter we heard how those in forced labour were being treated worse and worse by Pharaoh. The key to all of this was that God was in charge, he loved his people and he made sure that Moses knew, and Aaron knew and the Israelite leaders knew. The current circumstances were not good but they were what they were for a time.

We too are living in very strange times and yet we must hold close to our hearts as Moses had to that God is God and that has not changed, that he loves us and that has not changed, that hew will bring us through this as he always has. Like Moses we need to keep our eyes fixed on God in these difficult days, let him be our voice of calm and our vision for the future.

Some more familiar words to leave you with from one of our greatest hymns:

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
Thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and thou only first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Your friend and Vicar

David