Jethro’s reunion with Moses in Exodus 18 gives some insights as to when our best intentions can or do array…
17. And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
So what was he doing? Spending, at least in his father-in-law’s mind, too much time in judgement and personal instruction of God’s Laws. But isn’t this a noble thing? Advising, instructing, and meditating the needs of others?
Personal Example: Around the time my youngest sister was teething I was of the age to babysit. When mom wasn’t around, I learned that a good substitute for the teething rings, which never made it back into the freezer, were Fla-vor-ice pops! Since I was already looking in the freezer, this seemed like a very smart option and quickly pacified her. Some time passed and this sister developed red lines on the edges of her mouth making their way out to her cheeks in a near straight line. Shortly thereafter little blisters appeared. Was this hand-foot-mouth diseases or something else? Upon further inspection from a Doctor, it was determined she had frostbite. Mom was perplexed; how in summer time, in Virginia, does an infant get frostbite? I don’t remember how the cause was discovered, but I do remember feeling bad.
None of us live unaffected by the good intentions of others. There are unintended consequences all around. Like Moses, once informed of our less effective ways may we have the humility to change and do better.
Sorry, Sis!
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