March 13
5The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6I will stand there before you by the Rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:5-7, The Jesus Bible)
Happy Monday Family! I pray you all had a fulfilling weekend, that you spent time in the presence of God and allowed the Holy Spirit to step into your life. I had a wonderful weekend spending time with my sister and her kids, taking them out in Savannah and soaking in all that the majestic city has to offer this time of year. The weather was perfect on Saturday, which made for a picturesque visit to Forsyth Park where several Irish musicians provided a free concert to all in attendance. Savannah loves her Irish tradition and everything in the month of March is geared around the celebration of the biggest parade in the south, all honoring the great Saint Patrick.
Just kidding, unfortunately, the truth of the reason for the season is all but lost in our culture. Not many take time to pause and consider who Saint Patrick was and what he accomplished. I know I did not do so until just recently. For me, St. Patty’s Day was just the day I made one of my favorite dishes: corned beef and cabbage. That was paired with some Guinness and it was a time to celebrate with friends. I did not start reading about the history of the man until a few years ago, but I’ll get to that in a few days. For today, I am stepping even further back in history, as I continue to inch through the Old Testament.
The Book of Exodus is a wonderful storyline of Moses’ triumph with the Israelites. The Ten Plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna and quail in the wilderness, and then the water from the rock. Despite all these wonders, the Israelites continue to test God and question His existence. In the verses above, the community had run out of water, and instead of praying for God to provide for them, they argued to Moses that it would have been better for them to stay in Egypt than to die of thirst in the desert. Even after being provided bread from dew on the ground, and quail falling from the skies; even after the presence of the Lord stays in front of them as a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night, the Israelites still question God’s promise to them.
Are you still there God? Why did you bring me out of this bondage just to die in the desert? Why did you lead me away from that comfortable job to this new wilderness where I feel challenged everyday? Why is my loved one sick with cancer? What the Israelite people were going through is what we all go through when we meet a moment of adversity. When the good times get hard, are we not just like the Israelites and asking: Where are you God? Why have you brought me away from the Egyptians just to die from thirst in the desert?
And this is where faith comes in. Faith to trust that God is working out all things for our good. That is what the stories of the Bible teach time and time again: have faith in God. Trust Him. Trust the bigger story. You might be living in a moment of anguish and tribulation, but God knows how the story ends. He is the author of life. He would never lead you into the wilderness without planning on providing all you need. Never stop believing. Never lose faith.
I have a new hype song that I found thanks to Spotify’s recommendation. Bridge Worship just released their first full worship album. This fun, energetic group hails from the greater-Nashville area, and the opening track of their album is fantastic. “That’s My King” is a powerful anthem reminding everyone who listens to this song who their King is.
Common Sense Reborn 