Provision

When I was a girl, I always wished for a suit of armor that no one could see, but that would protect me. I wished to hide myself from my peers, from those with whom I came in contact, that I might protect myself--my true self--from them.

At the same time, this was exhausting. I hated leaving my bedroom because I could never be myself. I always had to put on a mask for others. I remember expressing this to my parents, that being home was the only place I could truly be myself.

Of course, I had no idea who I was at the time. Because true Identity does not need protection. It travels in an inherently protected vessel: The Word of Yahweh.

I was watching "The Prince of Egypt" recently. This movie is a fictional portrayal of the story of Moses in Exodus. There are a lot of Kingdom elements in this movie, though it is obviously imperfect (the title still refers to Moses by his worldly identity as a prince of Egypt. I think "Deliverer" would have been a better title...)

One of my favorite scenes in this movie is at the very beginning when Moses's mother is placing Moses in this flimsy woven basket to set it adrift on one of the largest and busiest rivers in the world, The Nile.   If there had been any other way, surely she would have chosen another path. But this path of possible death was better than the option of certain death that awaited Moses should the Egyptians find him too soon. (Because they DID find him, but it's all about timing.) Actually, if you look at Hebrews 11 (vs. 23), you can see that Moses's parents were commended for their faith in keeping him safe.

So this young woman, Moses's mother, took her child, set him adrift in a basket, and prayed for his survival. The movie shows this basket flowing down the Nile for a long time, through many dangers. Crocodiles, hippopotami, river barges, overwhelming waves. And finally, at the end of these dangers came one of the worst of all: the discovery by the Egyptians, who could just as easily have killed him as taken him in.

With all of this, how could a simple woven basket have protected Moses?

It couldn't have.

The simple answer is this: Moses was not set adrift in a basket, but in the Word of Yahweh. The Word of Yahweh, which is unshakable and unbreakable. This Strong Tower that will protect you, guide you, deliver you.

Through oceans, torrents, plagues, monsters. Through those dark nights when you aren't sure what's what anymore and you can barely remember your own name. Through those days when you feel like you're running an endless marathon and you're sure the next step will be your last. Through those moments when you just want to lay down and rest. If you can't remember anything else, cling to the Word. That will get you home, to that place where Yahweh wants you, your Promised Land, that point of intersection on your geodesic line.

And best of all, this is all you have to do. Cling to the Word. You don't have to fight or strive or worry. Just hold on to the Word of Yahweh. And this is not exhausting as are the other options because as you cling to the Word, the Word clings to you. It surrounds you, encapsulates you, protects you, and provides for you. It's all I have, but that's enough.

And so, my wish is fullfilled. I walk always in a protective suit of armor that no one can see, but that protects my true self. The armor of Christ. And I don't have to do anything to have it. It is, so I am. And now that I have this protection, I can, instead of hiding my true self, actually shine. Because Yahweh's cool like that. He gives us what we've always wanted, but makes it even better. He makes it best.