The School of Extravagance
Scripture Reading — Exodus 2:1-10
When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son.
Suffering is a teacher, revealing that life is hard and that we are not able to fix life’s problems on our own. Moses spent his earliest years with that teacher, living with his family in slavery to the Egyptians.
However, God had plans to educate Moses through other teachers as well. Moses’ mother took him, at some point, to the house of Pharaoh, where she handed him over to Pharaoh’s daughter. This Hebrew boy, who had been learning the lessons of suffering, spent the rest of his youth growing up as the grandson of Pharaoh! He was probably shaped by Egypt’s best tutors and professors, taught to speak, think, and behave as a highly educated and privileged Egyptian.
Moses probably also witnessed great extravagance and power at the court of Pharaoh. Such things can wrench the fallen human heart farther from God and deeper into the illusion that one can fix the problems of life on one’s own. Did Moses remember, while in the house of Pharaoh, the lessons learned when he had lived in suffering?
If there is extravagance in your life, what is it teaching you? Do you see the generosity, creativity, and bounty of God in your life, or do you see your wealth and its blessings as products of your cleverness and planning? Have you learned gratitude—or an attitude?
Father, you used extravagance to shape Moses, the boy who would be Israel’s leader. Shape us too. Keep us from selfishness and pride. Teach us joy and gratitude, and make us into humble servants. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — David Den Haan
Pastor Dave Den Haan has served at Fairway Christian Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan, since 1999. Previously he served a church in Minnesota. Dave and his wife, Connie, have three children.
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