Advent 2018 – Day Ten – River deep, mountain high
Today’s song is River deep, Mountain high. 
I struggled to think of a song for today but then this came to me.
Probably in relation to Moses floating in the river as a baby, which we will read about later, and then his call to meet God on the mountain.
And do I love you my oh my
Yeah river deep mountain high
The story of the birth of Moses perhaps seems an odd reading to explore in Advent time. However, I think it does draw out a number of interesting themes which add to our reflections as we travel towards the birth of Jesus.
Firstly we can draw a number of comparisons between the stories of Moses and of Jesus.
When we take time to compare and contrast them they do have several factors in common. An imperial ruler threatens t
he life of the infant and indeed all other infants, the rescue of the child who will later rescue his people in the case of Moses and all people in the case of Jesus.
The story also speaks to me of trust in God. Moses’ mother casts her son into the water trusting that God will provide and keep him safe.Mary at many points in Jesus life must have wondered how his life would turn out.
In some ways both infants are nurtured by the least expected people. The wife of Pharoh the man who would have had him drowned and a young unmarried girl to be Jesus’ mother.
Both were to be a vital part of God’s plan. Moses to bring God’s people out of Egypt and Jesus to provide the world with the pathway to salvation.
The stories are also active and dynamic involving acceptance of God’s will.
In this Advent time think of the risks you should be taking in your Christian journey and ask God to show you the part he wants you to play in salvations story.
As Mary had to let go of her son, Jesus, so he could do his work, so Moses’ mother had to let him go – cast him off in a cradle on the water – to save his life so he could do the work God had planned for him. In both cases, those babies went on to change the world.
Do we let go? Do we cling to things, to ideas, to opinions, just because we are too proud to change our minds, or believe we are always right?
Perhaps we should learn to let go? Learn to listen to that quiet voice inside that urges us to stop and think. Learn to respond to that glimmer of unease that says maybe we don’t have all the answers.
When we pray, do we tell God what we want, and what ought to happen? Or do we listen for his still, small voice, and let him take control?
Heavenly Father, help me to learn that you are the Lord, whose wisdom is greater than any human mind’s, and whose path – although confusing and difficult sometimes – is the one I should follow.
Help me to let go, and let you. Let you take over my life, my thoughts, my speaking, and my actions. And most of all, now, in this time of prayer, let me listen. Amen.
Bible Passage: – Exodus Chapter 2 Verses 1 – 10 (NIV)
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When 
she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Hymn: Singing the Faith – “Lord I come to you“
Contemplation saying.
“His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.”
Let us pray together.
Contemplative Prayer.
Think of the saying in order to understand context and meaning,
Feel the meaning of the saying with and in your heart,
Pray, using the saying, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.
Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers.
Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.
Twitter Prayer
Loving God, help me today to be an active part of your Salvation story. Amen
Facebook Prayer
.Loving God we are so often passive in the expression of our love for you. We pray that today you will help us to speak of your love for the world that those we meet may hear the Good News of your coming into our lives. Amen.
Full Prayer
Lord sometimes we are guilty of standing by watching rather than being active in your mission. We pray that where we see need we will respond by showing your love.
May we be prepared to take risks as Moses’ mother did trusting that you will never fail us.
Lord, sometimes we feel that we have been cast adrift by life. Lost, vulnerable and alone, help us to remember that you are always with us. That we are all named and loved by you.
Help us to seek strength, courage and guidance from you and let us open our own hearts to others who need our help.
We pray for all refugees in the world, parted from their homes, families, work and everything thay have known. Help us to be generous and supportive in drawing the lost into your kingdom of love and compassion. Amen
