Paralyzing Darkness - a Stillspeaking Devotional

Paralyzing Darkness Bible Excerpt from Exodus 10:21-29
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand towards heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt." . . . . People could not see one another, and for three days they could not move from where they were; but all the Israelites had light where they lived.

Reflection by Lillian Daniel

One symptom of despair is being unable to move. When people are profoundly low in spirit, they cannot even get out of bed, let alone get out and accomplish things. Sadness can be paralyzing, and so can grief. We have all had times when the darkness around us has made us afraid to step out. Later, we look back on such times, and wonder where they came from. In hindsight, they can seem mercifully foreign. But when you are in the middle of darkness, you cannot move.

In the Exodus story, it is the Egyptians who are trapped in darkness, while the Israelites get to see the light. The Israelites were being prepared to escape from slavery. They saw light while the rest of the culture was stuck in darkness. They were heading to the Promised Land, while the Egyptians were unable to move. In this case, the Egyptians were the oppressors, and could not see God's light.

But sometimes we get trapped in darkness when we haven't done anything wrong. That was probably the case with some of the Egyptians. They couldn't all have been bad people, just as the Israelites could not all have been perfect. Sometimes good people get trapped in the dark, and when that happens we remember the words about Jesus from John 1: 4-5, which today will be our prayer:

Prayer
"What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." Amen.

About the Author
Lillian Daniel is Senior Minister, First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

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Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.


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