Break the Cycle

Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s clock. Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their clock. When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.” (Exodus 2:16-20) 
 
Yesterday we talked about Moses sitting down by the well in Midian. After he had arrived at that well, he was confronted with another situation that could have gone horribly wrong, given his past history of reacting out of anger. Seven Midianite daughters were being mistreated by some shepherds, and even though Moses is outraged by what he’s seeing, he transforms his anger into something positive. 
 
He stood up for those women at a time when they were being overpowered by those men. This time, instead of attacking someone, he defended someone. He realized that he didn’t have to attack those who were strong in order to defend those who were right.  
 
After having a long history of struggling with anger, Moses breaks that cycle of anger in his life. And in doing so, he shows us that we are not perpetually doomed to repeat the behavior patterns we’ve learned over the years, but we, too, can break the cycle of anger in our own lives.  
 
With the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can break the cycle. Allow the Spirit to work in your heart to change your pattern, chart a new course, and change your direction. When you do, you will experience the opposite of anger, which is joy. And aren’t you grateful that because of Jesus, we have access to pure, unending, unconditional joy?