Loki and Moses: Adoption Identity

I was given this odd comparison meme (look to your right) by one of our Graphic Word crew that looked at some connections between Loki from the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and Moses.  The challenge was to see if there was anything that could be taught about this, so... here we are.  First, let's look at Loki: the God of mischief (really lives up to his title) is an adopted son of Odin and was supposed to be prince of the Frost Giants.  Growing up, he felt like the odd one out, but had a inkling in his heart to be a ruler/king.  However, whenever he attempted this (usurping Odin's thrown, trying to taker over Earth, disguising himself as Odin) it would always go badly. Loki had a struggle with this identity; that he was supposed to rule, this is who he is, what he is meant to do. Sadly this would leave him broken and often trying to break others to accept his self-defined identity. It's actually difficult not to pity him in all of his efforts.

Moses on the other hand was born in slavery and grew up in royalty via being found in the river Nile by the pharaoh's daughter.  He grew up with education, wealth, but also knew his identity as Hebrew.  This is what actually caused him to run to the desert after killing a slave master beating a Hebrew slave.  In the midst of his 40 years of hiding, Moses found a deeper identity through God in the burning bush: to be a leader, a co-liberator, and the first prophet in the Bible (Hebrews 11:24-28). The next 40 years of Moses' life defined him as a man who stood close to God, following God's leading, and would bring the Israelites to the promise land. Moses was only successful, because he found his identity in God and not in his own position/pursuits.

The difference between the two was Loki's adoption became to focus point: an identity crisis (due to it being hidden knowledge) and trying to heal that wound. Moses' adoption was known to him, he was able to go to the source of identity (God) and be stable in it. You too are offered the opportunity to be adopted by God and find your identity in Him (Galatians 4:4-7).

Where do you get your identity from? Will you be the one who determines it by aspirations or past circumstances? Will you take your identity and give it to God to allow Him to speak into who He has set you up to be?

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