seemingly useless acts
"She hid him for three months." —Exodus 2:2
Moses' mother refused to obey the Egyptian law to throw her baby boy into the river (Ex 1:22). "She hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer" (Ex 2:2-3), she put her baby in a basket and floated him on the river. Pharaoh's daughter saw the baby and rescued him. Eighty years later, Moses was empowered by God to free the Israelite nation from the slavery of Egypt.
The civil disobedience of Moses' mother seemed to be a useless act, which merely delayed the inevitable (see Is 49:4). However, her baby's life was saved, and eventually the whole nation of Israel was freed.
Are there any seemingly useless acts of obedience to God and disobedience to man that God is giving you to do? Should you be like Moses' mother? For example, if you don't pay your federal and state income taxes, Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry will not get a few pennies of funding from you. Should you disobey the law and pray publicly in a public school? (see Dn 6:11) Should you disregard company policy when this policy disregards God? The Lord has used seemingly useless acts of civil disobedience to do some of His greatest works. What seems useless can actually be the most useful. Disobey man to obey God (see Acts 4:19).
Prayer: Father, I will obey You even if I have to disobey man. May I receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:29-32).
Promise: "If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Sodom, it would be standing today. I assure you, it will go easier for Sodom than for you on the day of judgment." —Mt 11:23-24
Praise: Bonaventure prayed: "Grant that my soul may hunger after You, the Bread of angels."
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Abortion and Your Taxes.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, November 12, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 10, 1996