Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Bob Reichman.
In the late 1960s, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” was cutting-edge television. The show didn’t shy away from controversial political humor, and it introduced the world to Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas.” It also frequently featured singer Glen Campbell, the character Father Guido Sarducci, and an irreverent young comedian named David Steinberg, who would later also become an acclaimed writer and director. The Smothers Brothers were frequently in trouble with the CBS censors, most memorably over Steinberg’s routines.
Steinberg, the son of a rabbi and once a rabbinical student, on one occasion offered his take on a biblical story with a twist that upset some viewers as well as the network. It was based on the burning bush story in Exodus. In Steinberg’s telling, Moses encounters the burning bush and is puzzled that it is not being consumed by the flames. God instructs Moses to come closer but tells him to remove his sandals because he is on holy ground. Moses does as he is told and burns his feet. “Ha, ha!” says God. “Third one today!” (Steinberg’s speculation on what an angry Moses said next is surely what pushed the network and not a few viewers over the edge. When the Smothers Brothers asked Steinberg to do another “sermon” at a later date, CBS found a way to cancel the show.)
While God isn’t a practical joker in the actual text, there are some tricks up God’s sleeve. God has heard the cries of the Israelites, who are suffering under the oppression of the Egyptians, and God sees in Moses the guy who can get the Israelites out of Egypt. “I will send you to Pharaoh,” God says. Moses, probably looking around to see if there is someone behind him to whom God is referring and finally pointing to himself with eyebrows raised, says, and I paraphrase only slightly here, “Who, me?” But God is insistent and assures Moses that God will be with him. It would have been pretty hard to say no to God face to face, I would guess, even though Moses was trying really hard not to even look at God.
I think all, or at least most, of us would have a hard time saying no as well if we were confronted face to face by God. But as simple and clear as that would make things, the way it works for us is more subtle. In our daily lives there are bills to pay, diapers to change, lawns to mow, dishes to wash, appointments to make, news, ads, entertainment, crises to manage, and amid all that we’re supposed to find God? Where? Our best shot is to separate ourselves from all the distractions and be still. We’re not likely to meet God face to face – not in this life, anyway – but if we can quiet ourselves, center ourselves, we can listen for that “still, small voice” of God referred to in 1 Kings.
A quarter-century ago, I was plodding through seminary at a snail’s pace while working full-time. I was draining most of our savings, and I felt that I wasn’t spending enough time with our young kids. I had my doubts about whether I was cut out to be a pastor, but I was enjoying my time at the seminary and felt that I was learning a lot. I didn’t know what to do. One day, as I was contemplating this while driving, a song came on the radio, which I was playing at a low volume. “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need,” sang Mick Jagger. At that moment, I became a seminary dropout. I knew then that what I needed at that time was my family. (And I would have been a lousy pastor, anyway.)
I’m not saying that God put that song on the radio, rather that the answer I was looking for was all around me. I just needed to be still and start listening. And I didn’t have to burn my feet.
Prayer
God, help us to calm, quiet and center ourselves so we can hear your still, small voice amid all the noise and distractions. Be with us if you send us to Pharaoh, but also in the minutiae of our daily lives.