I am continually shocked at what people will post online to social media. The most frightful however is when others post recordings of someone else’s out of control bad behavior. I tell my kids that they should conduct themselves with the assumption that someone is always watching and always recording because in this current world with cameras everywhere is it true. Sometimes posts will get people fired from jobs or will cause embarrassment to family or community. What social media does not forgive God can forgive. God even forgives murderers.

Out of the Heart

The Bible tells us that what we speak out loud reveals what is in our heart. Sometimes that evil and bad behavior we try to keep a lid on gets out. I pray no one is recording me at that moment or I think myself clever with a post that is actually self-sabotage. It seems we think we are clever in our sins and Moses who was raised up in the shrewdness of Egypt thought so as well. What is true then is true now. Nothing is hidden forever. What we have done will be exposed.

12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:12 NIV

When No One Sees

Moses wanted to be a hero to his people and so he saw an opportunity. He knew it was wrong as evidenced by the evaluation that no one was looking (except for the Hebrew he was rescuing) and the deed was done. This Hebrew that was being beaten by the Egyptian promptly told a few people who told a few people and by the next day everyone in Egypt knew what Moses had done.  

13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Proverbs 28:13-14 ESV

Actions and Consequences

Moses had not thought through his vigilantism. Murder was in his heart and out of the heart comes the overflow. God forgives even murderers but consequences are still hard. Moses had to flee Egypt and all he had known because of this sin. In the wilderness Moses contents himself to a new life outside of the power and strength of Egypt. I wonder if it will ever be possible for society to walk away from the evil of social media? How many flee into the wilderness because a pitch fork mob of cancel culture is following them around? The casualties on both the left and right are growing.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalms 103:10-13 ESV

God Forgives Murderers

Moses deserved what happened. Cold blooded murder is chilling but God is compassionate and restores what is broken. Whatever our sins for those that fear God can put their future lives and their current trust in his perfect hands. God will heal what is broken. God will love the unlovable. He is full of grace and mercy.

Ask Jesus for forgiveness. Speak to him in plain language. That is what real prayer looks like. Talking to him and believing he is in control in spite of our rebellion.

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9 ESV