DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Exodus 2:5-10
(01/16)
Ninth
Types of Baptism ~ The Astounding God: Exodus 2:5-10
SAAS, especially vs. 10: “Now
when the boy was grown, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he
became her son; and she called his name Moses, saying, ‘Because I drew
him out of the water.’”
The deliverance of the infant Moses from death by exposure, drowning, or
destruction prompts us to consider the astounding nature of God - to
contemplate Him Who, beyond all expectation, shapes impossible events to His
sovereign will. We, especially, who
have been drawn out of the waters of Baptism, can certainly agree with Moses,
“The Lord became my helper and the shield of my salvation: He is my God,
and I will glorify Him; My father’s God, and I
will exalt Him” (Ex. 15:2).
Our God does not abandon those who trust in Him, crowning faith with
salvation, receiving them “...out of many waters” (Ps. 17:16), and
turning devastation into glory.
Dependent and helpless, like the infant Moses, most
Orthodox Christians are brought to the waters of Baptism by their parents. They come to the font borne in the arms
of godparents, unaware of what is taking place, quite without understanding of
the riches and blessings being bestowed, but upheld by the faith of family,
godparents, and the entire Body of Christ.
Even those who come as adults to the Mystery of Baptism can only
partially understand what God is accomplishing. Truly, who really understands?! Who comprehends what God has done, is
doing, and will do for those whom He draws out of the water?
Moses’ parents were people of God. They disobeyed Pharaoh’s command,
believing in God as the Giver of life.
As earlier verses in Chapter Two explain, when they saw that
“...he was a beautiful child” (Ex. 2:2), they hid the infant, not
foolishly submitting to death in any way. They resisted correct
temptations, for they saw with eyes of the heart “...that he
was...beautiful.”
Understand that their vision was not simply fixated on
physical appearances, but was a perception with noetic
eyes, from pure hearts. When
Moses’ mother looked she saw his comeliness as evidence that God wanted
her child alive. Still, he outgrew
his parents capacity to hide him, so they placed the
boy in an ark woven of reeds and caulked to keep it afloat (Ex. 2:3). All these actions, like the efforts of
modern parents who bring their children for Baptism, were carried out trusting
that God acts with astounding love toward those who seek His will.
Repeatedly God astounds and reveals Himself as our Savior,
delivering us through many waters.
He saved the human race by means of an ark floating on the great
worldwide flood waters, safely keeping Noah and his family while hoards of
unbelievers drowned (Gen. 6-8). He
saved His chosen People through the obedience of Moses when facing the
What this present reading particularly reveals is that He
Whom the Church proclaims is always ready to contravene the very worst human
intentions. Throughout history, God
has transformed what men mean for evil and turned the sinful acts of men into
life-bestowing blessings “...in order to...save many people alive”
(Gen. 50:20).
Is it not astounding, yes, and ironic, that the daughter of
Pharaoh contravened her father’s efforts to destroy
O Christ our God, save Thy world which Thou has sanctified in the waters of
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