But the culprit replied, “Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?”
Then Moses became afraid and thought, “The affair must certainly be known.” Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put Moses to death. But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian.
Children, grasping the concept of freedom even as they eagerly anticipate their growing independence from parents and teachers, might suppose, like the Hebrew who accosted Moses, that no one has the right or authority to judge them. Challenged, they might respond, “That’s just how I feel!” or, “I can’t help it; that’s who I am!”
With their defenses up, they insist they can change neither their feelings, (which shift with the weather), nor their identity, (which is also in flux). Sensing their utter uniqueness and personal identities -- qualities which are godlike -- they push the argument further saying, “No one can judge me!”
If they’re deep thinkers they might push further saying, “Not even God has the authority to judge me!” A thought akin to Jean Paul Sartre’s, “If there is a God, there shouldn’t be.”
Moses, discovering that attitude among his fellow Hebrews, and unsure of his response, fled into the desert where he could be far from his Hebrew family and kin, their overlords, his adoptive mother, and the Pharaoh. He needed space to think. A psychologist could speculate about his confusion as the sole survivor of a generation of Hebrew boys and a well-educated Egyptian rescue baby. He should have been either murdered or a slave, but he was a cultured royal son. He was probably a social outcast of both groups, and neither would recognize his right to judge.
Nonjudgmental seems to be the key virtue in a multicultural, multivalent society. “Judge not lest ye be judged!” the scriptures say somewhere. If they quote no other verse from scripture, they know that one.
But judgement is as real as God. We judge because we’re created in the image of God and that’s what God does. First, the resemblance is palpably demonstrated by our judging others; and secondly, we do it to survive! Naturally suspicious of strangers, humans are always alert for odd behavior. There are certain situations in which the most open-minded, generous persons must flee for the exits! That man with a gun in the supermarket is not here to purchase bubblegum.
Our faith teaches us to be aware of God the Judge of judges. He may condemn us because he created us from the dust of the earth and can as easily dispatch us back to it! But, more importantly, he has the authority because he has saved us through the death and resurrection of his Only Begotten Son. That price was more than we could ask, expect, or deserve.
And finally, we pray for mercy because. "...God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17)
And "...no one is just in your sight."
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.