Does this question sound familiar?
Does this phrase (Do these words) exist in our vocabulary?
Well, I am just quoting a part of the Scripture verse here. These are the exact words used by the Israelites in their journey towards the Promised Land.
Exodus 17:7 – “And Moses called the place Massah (~ testing) and Meribah (~ quarreling) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
- It was not soon after the Israelites were delivered from a raging Pharaoh …
- It was a few days after God stunningly made way in the Red Sea …
- It was right after God provided them with water at Marah …
- And right after the divine provision of Manna & Quail …
How easy it was for these people to forget all that they had seen and experienced in the last few weeks and to grumble against God?
The question in their mind was not whether God would provide for them or not, but doubting His very presence.
When these people left Egypt, God’s presence guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and by a pillar of fire at night.
Exodus 13:21,22 – “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people”.
In the very presence of God, they were able to grumble about God’s existence amidst them.
I don’t think the pillar of cloud or the fire had departed at this stage, quoting from Nehemiah 9:19 – “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take”.
Surely, God has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (cf. Deut.31:6)
There are 3 things which we can do, to ensure that His presence is there with us, and that we see Him at all times:
a) Focus on what is there, rather than what is not there – The children of Israel forgot to see what was there, but were focusing on something which they didn’t have.
b) Focus on the big picture rather than the present crisis – The immediate crisis should in no way hinder our overall perspective about our life
c) Let God be in control and don’t take over – With the Lord’s presence guiding them, it should have been easier. Just a few days ago, the presence of God led them to Elim (cf. Ex.15:27), where there were 12 springs & 70 palm trees. And this time the presence of the Lord led them to Rephidim (cf. Ex.17:1). Clearly the Lord knew what He was doing … perhaps it was a test (cf. Ex.16:4b – “… in this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions”).
The fact that these people were thirsty (17:3), shows that the struggles in this world will be there, even when we are lead by the Lord.
But the key is always in how we respond.
Let’s keep His presence our focus and let Him be in-charge .. and He will surely navigate us through the storms of life
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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