How do you react to difficulty in life? Do you crumble with each challenging situation? Or are you strong, exhibit great faith and deal straight on with the difficulties in your life?
What about those long stretches of time when you’ve fought the good fight? During the dark seasons in your life that you wanted to sit this one out but you’ve kept going and been faithful to God. Just when you think I’m there, I made it through this unpleasant season and now I can relax a little bit… God has other plans for you.
You get a bill from the IRS in the amount of $6,000 because 2 years ago you incorrectly reported something on your tax statement. The doctor’s report is not good. Your spouse seems a bit distant and discouraged and you wonder what’s changed. You have a prodigal child and years of unanswered prayers seem to be hitting a ceiling. Do you give up? Do you get angry? Or do you keep on fighting the good fight and take one more step?
I’m reminded about the Israelites and specifically when Moses was leading them out of their bondage in Egypt. They seemed to complain, rally, complain, rally, complain…get the point? “The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’” (Exodus 16:3) Is that where you are at today? Just take me Lord because the manna is not satisfying me and I just don’t see a way out of this life.
God heard their grumblings just like He hears ours today. “The Lord said to Moses,
‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites…’” (vs. 12)
At times, even Moses was discouraged and we can learn great lessons from the transgressions of Biblical heroes. Moses was the man! God used him extraordinarily and even with the seemingly close relationship he had with God, Moses fell into sin. Are you a leader in your community or church? Do you have a close relationship with God?
God used something simple to get the attention of the second generation of Israelites. He used something we all need in our daily existence and He used this staple of life to show that no matter what your situation is, don’t give up, God will provide. God used the lack of water to get their attention. “There was no water there for the community, so they ganged up on Moses and Aaron.” (Numbers 20:2) Could this be the same thing as lack of money in today’s economy? What is God using to get your attention?
Moses, worn out from fighting the good fight, showed his lack of faith in the One True God. Right when the darkness of his season was great…when he needed to have the most patience, he allowed his inner most thoughts to be full of pride and anger. Who could blame him, right? I get angry at the Israelites when I read the story of their constant grumbling too! “for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
(James 1:20)
(James 1:20)
It sounds silly to argue the point and you may be thinking, it’s just semantics, but God asked Moses to speak to the rock, not beat it. Actually God told Moses to have Aaron speak to the people through Moses. You can read the account and get all the details but the point I’m trying to make is that Moses had already allowed his heart to turn away from God because of the pressures in his life. “…Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10b)
Frustrations get the best of us. Our feelings get hurt. We are disappointed in the people we thought were trustworthy. Our church doesn’t seem to do anything right. I never have enough money to pay my bills, what’s the use? God will never answer my prayers.
Pressures are inevitable but they can also be necessary. God is not sitting in heaven ready to answer the prayers of the highest bidder. Join me today in committing to a life of faithfulness in our God. Commit to not wanting to return to Egypt; back to a place where you don’t have to think or improve your life; to a place of captivity to something or someone. We typically stay in those situations because they’re familiar to us while we sit out life.
Instead, step out in faith. Improve your life by first making things right with God. If we want His blessings, we need to be in step with Him first. “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” (Numbers 20:12)
Everyone’s life is imperfect. Don’t go back to Egypt. Each time you are tempted to return, remind yourself to take one more step forward. Let a perfect God be your solution.
Let’s Pray. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." (Luke 11:2-4)
Until next time~
Blessings, Nancy
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