God’s Deliverance and Blessings

In the first chapter of Joel, the writer uses the imagery of locusts to warn the people of Israel of God’s judgment. The second chapter delves into what their – and consequently our – reaction to a Holy God should be – repentance.

¹⁹Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:  ²⁰But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

²¹Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.  ²²Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. ²³Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

²⁴And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.  ²⁵And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Joel here is speaking to a nation that needs to acknowledge and receive God’s mercy and to repent (turn away from) their sin. God’s deliverance and blessings are named starting in verse 19 of chapter 2. In a merciful response to our repentance, the Lord promises to;

1. Provide our every need (v. 19),
2. Protect us from our enemies (v. 20).
3. Give us joy in life instead of fear (v. 21-22).
4. Evidence of his faithfulness (v. 23).

After restoring what was destroyed, the Lord goes on to promise even more.

26 Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. 27 Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced.  28 “Then, after doing all those things,I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. (Joel 2:28-29).

Though Joel is speaking to a nation, it’s important to reflect on these promises from God on a personal level. Not only are we – as a society – resurrected from sin because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are – corporately and individually – given life in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of judgment, God shows His mercy. He goes beyond saving us from our wretched sin; the Lord forgets we ever wronged Him, granting us access to Himself (Ephesians 2:17-18) and pouring His Spirit into our renewed lives.

When we allow God to work in our souls, we give Him the access He needs to clean out what the locust (the invading enemy of our souls – sin) destroyed and build up what the Spirit delivers. The Holy Spirit, in effect, redeems what was lost by working through our lives. Each of us who have called on the name of the Lord understands this completely. It’s further evidence that Romans 8:28 is true.

 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.  28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (Romans 8:26-30, NLT)

Our sin makes us weak, but it is Christ in us that makes us strong in spirit. God works every thing together to restore what sin has cost us. It does not matter what the “locust” have done to destroy your testimony or the life of a prodigal you know; the Lord, through His mercy and grace, is ready to redeem.

Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Charles G. Trumbull tells a story about seeing from a distance what appeared to be a man pumping water from a well at a very rapid pace. The water was flowing virtually nonstop as the man pumped vigorously. He said, “I’ve got to meet a man that can pump water like that.”

As he got closer, he realized that the figure was not a man after all, only a wooden image of a man on a hinge connected to a water pipe. Furthermore, the water was flowing from an artesian well and it wasn’t the man pumping the water, but the water pumping the man.

Scripture: John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ³⁹By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Abundant life is a life  lived in the power of the Spirit which from a distance may appear that we are doing great things for God. In reality, it is God’s activity in and through us that produces results.

A song writer wrote a song based on this passage and said;

“I’ve got a river of life flowin’ out of me. Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see. Opens prison doors, sets the captives free. I’ve got a river of life flowin’ out of me.

“Spring up Oh Well. Within my soul. Spring up Oh Well And make me whole. Spring up Oh Well And give to me That life abundantly.”

Running the Race

Hebrews 12

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Coach Nigel Hetherington, the Scottish National Sprints and Hurdles coach, shares ten principles of the baton relay as follows;

• The race is about the baton, not the runners. The objective is to keep the baton moving at maximum speed at all times throughout the race. The baton must always remain the fastest member of the squad!
• The relay brings out the best in everyone. The relay should increase, not decrease, the speed of the athletes. A properly-trained 400 meter relay team will post a time that is less than the four runners’ combined 100 meter times.
• Every team member should be prepared to run in all positions. Every possible combination of positions and changeovers should be practiced to allow complete flexibility in covering every eventuality.
• It is a good idea to practice the baton pass. Have all members of the squad stand one step apart in the same lane, facing the same direction. Give the baton to the athlete at the back and ask each to pass it until it arrives at the front.
• Practice until the handover becomes instinctual. Athletes must learn to trust one another. Rather than looking back, the outgoing runner should be trained to respond to a ‘hand’ command.
• Practice under pressure. Introduce the pressure of race day during practice. For example, run two or more closely matched teams together and practice exchanges with athletes on either side. Recreate spectator noise if possible.
• The last runner must be chosen carefully. The last leg runner must maintain form while under pressure— there’s no one else to help them out. Choose an ‘adrenaline’ runner who can hit the finish line at full speed.
• The baton exchange should occur at very close maximum speed. The incoming athlete should not be overstretched, or he will be off-balance when making the exchange. The outgoing runner must focus on reaching full speed and only put his hand back when he receives the ‘hand’ command.
• A baton drop does not automatically disqualify a team. Whoever had the baton when it was dropped may retrieve it and continue the race. If the incoming runner drops it, he may pick it up and complete the pass.

Waiting on God

It stretches our faith to the breaking point for us to have to wait. Our typical response when our faith is challenged by cloudy doubts about the future is to make a big deal out of trying to put things back exactly the way they were before. To wait on Christ means that we find our life in him. To move out on our own good intentions, is to insist on living our way in our timing.

Luke records that on one occasion, while Jesus was eating with his disciples, he gave them this command:

‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit’ ” (Acts 1:3-5).

Of course Jesus’ listeners were still dealing over their dashed hopes and broken dreams. You will recall that one time they had “…anxiously asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel’ ” (Acts 1:6). Jesus will not be pushed. He told them:

‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you….’” (Acts 1:7).

While waiting, Peter tells the disciples that they have to pick someone to replace Judas.

“So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.” “Then ( and only then) they prayed. . .’Lord show us. . . ‘Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias…” (Acts 1:12-26).

Meanwhile, God is preparing the fire-breathing, believer-hating Saul to be Paul, the twelfth Apostle, an idea that they would never conceive in their wildest imaginings (Acts 9).

¹MEANWHILE SAUL, ^[a]still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.  ²And requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.

    ³Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,  ⁴And he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me [harassing, troubling, and molesting Me]?  ⁵And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. ^[b]It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].

    ⁶Trembling and astonished he asked, Lord, what do You desire me to do? The Lord said to him, But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. ⁷The men who were accompanying him were unable to speak [for terror], hearing the voice but seeing no one.   ⁸Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

    ⁹And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank [anything]. ¹⁰Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord. ¹¹And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there].

    ¹²And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. ¹³But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem; ¹⁴Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name.

    ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; ¹⁶For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake. ¹⁷So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

    ¹⁸And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,  ¹⁹And after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days [afterward] he remained with the disciples at Damascus.  ²⁰And immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, He is the Son of God!

 ²¹And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the very man who harassed and overthrew and destroyed in Jerusalem those who called upon this Name? And he has come here for the express purpose of arresting them and bringing them in chains before the chief priests. ²²But Saul increased all the more in strength, and continued to confound and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by comparing and examining evidence and proving that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah).

    ²³After considerable time had elapsed, the Jews conspired to put Saul out of the way by slaying him,  ²⁴But [the knowledge of] their plot was made known to Saul. They were guarding the [city’s] gates day and night to kill him, ²⁵But his disciples took him at night and let him down through the [city’s] wall, lowering him in a basket or hamper.

    ²⁶And when he had arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate himself with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he really was a disciple. ²⁷However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he explained to them how along the way he had seen the Lord, Who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached freely and confidently and courageously in the name of Jesus. ²⁸So he went in and out [as one] among them at Jerusalem,²⁹Preaching freely and confidently and boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with and disputed against the Hellenists (the Grecian Jews), but they were seeking to slay him.

    ³⁰And when the brethren found it out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].  ³¹So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified [growing in wisdom, virtue, and piety] and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.

Thank you for giving to the LORD

All we posses is a gift from God. God delights in multiplying the gifts of God’s children. Changing a life is one of the most precious and important things we can do. Only heaven can reveal to you all you are accomplishing with the gifts you are faithfully giving. May you find great satisfaction in knowing that the hope and help you are bringing in the name of Jesus is changing eternity for someone each day. May you know the abundance of God’s love for you, and may you experience His great favor, purpose and blessing

Choosing leaders

The month of May is a season between Easter and Pentecost Sunday in a Christian Calendar. It is also a season most churches sense the leading of God to select overseers. The Christian Calendar begins  the first Sunday after Thanksgiving {in November} with the anticipation of Jesus birth.

Next comes Christmas, lasting 12 days, which quickly turns into Epiphany, the recognition of the baby as the Christ. Next comes Lent and Easter (falls in March/April), when we remember the road to the cross and Jesus’ crucifixion and the glorious resurrection.

After Easter we celebrate Pentecost (around June). Pentecost was a day when tongues of fire rested on the disciples.  Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after Easter Sunday, Pentecost is often called the birthday of the church.

After that, we move into Ordinary Time (July, August, September and October).  This is the longest season of the church year and in it we hear the stories of Jesus preaching and teaching and parables. Knowing the seasons and what they mean in relation to Jesus’ life helps us see the seasons in relation to our life.

In this season of Pentecost, God is pleased that most churches review their local church leadership. It is appropriate, therefore, that we reflect on what the scripture has to say. First and foremost, let us turn to Acts 6:3-7. The scripture says;

³Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty. ⁴But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word. ⁵And the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith (a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah) and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte (convert) from Antioch.  ⁶These they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them. ⁷And the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God]. (Amplified)

This particular passage records a “bottom-up” procedure of choosing and installing leadership.  New leaders are ‘selected’ by the whole Jerusalem church, then ’commissioned’ by the apostles, who lay hands on them (Acts 6:3, 6).   The Seven are also to be ‘of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom’ (6:3).

Another passage instructive of “bottom-up” procedure is Timothy’s commissioning, though again he is not appointed an elder, but a missionary colleague of Paul’s.  Listen to the word in 2 Timothy 1:6

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [^[a]with those of the elders at your ordination] (Amplified Bible).

Timothy received the Spirit’s gift through the laying on of hands by Paul and the local elders in the church at Lystra (2 Tim 1:6; 1 Tim 4:14), but prophecy was also involved (1 Tim 4:14).

 ¹²Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.  ¹³Till I come, devote yourself to [public and private] reading, to exhortation (preaching and personal appeals), and to teaching and instilling doctrine. ¹⁴Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. ¹⁵Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.

In Acts 13:2-3, the Spirit through a prophecy requires Paul and Barnabas to be set apart for God for missionary service, and they are then commissioned by the laying on of hands.

¹NOW IN the church (assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. ³Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away. ⁴So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from [that port] they sailed away to Cyprus.

Acts 20:28 apostle Paul tells the Ephesian leaders;

Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you elders and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or ^[c]of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood. (Amplified)

The church, which is the Kingdom of God,  is here to stay forever. Someone has noted that some who have predicted the death of the church, have themselves been buried with the church as their ballbearer. Two thousand and eleven years ago, Jesus purchased the church with His own blood and will be here through eternity. This same Jesus said to the twelve,

“You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last….” (John 15: 16).

 Time is fulfilled. Holy Spirit inspired leaders are needed in every place where God is doing a work of restoration and revival. The New Testament broadly paints a consistent picture in which the church in each place has a group of local leaders, known most often as overseers, elders,  or presbyters.

• Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in all the churches founded on their first missionary journey;
• 1 Pet 5 expects there to be elders throughout the churches of the large area of Asia Minor to which it is written).
• For further study look at Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1 Tim 5:17, 19; Tit 1:5; Jas 5:14; 1 Pet 5:1.

The consistent impression is that the whole church in each place has its overseers selected in a “bottom-up model,” then commissioned by elders with the laying on of hands. We must send the light, the blessed gospel light with commissioning of leaders. Listen or sing the words of this powerful hymn;

There’s a call  comes ringing over the restless wave, Send the light! Send the light!There are souls to rescue there are souls to save,Send the light! Send the light!

 Send the light, the blessed Gospel light; Let it shine from shore to shore! Send the light, the blessed Gospel light; Let it shine forevermore!

We have heard the Macedonian call today, Send the light! Send the light! And a golden offering at the cross we lay, Send the light! Send the light!

Let us pray that grace may everywhere abound, Send the light! Send the light! And a Christlike spirit everywhere be found, Send the light! Send the light! 

Someone to impart values

Who is best suited and equipped to provide parting wisdom to a graduating class, encourage them to live lives of noble purpose, and welcome them to educated society?

Whose life and example is both interesting and inspiring enough to command an audience’s respect, and hold their attention?

An article by Cherie Harder says that  nowadays elite universities turn to entertainers to impart values to graduates. Some of these year’s Commencement speaker include;

1. Yale University is Tom Hanks.
2. Harvard, comedian Amy Poehler will deliver the Class Day address
3.  Brooke Shields will serve as Class Day speaker at Princeton.
4. Denzel Washington will speak at the University of Pennsylvania’s Commencement,
5. Stephen Colbert at Northwestern’s,
6. Jane Conley at Wellesley’s, and
7. Conan O’Brien will do the honors at Dartmouth.

Why this reality? Could it be because it is easier — and far more amusing — to make a joke than to impart a vision of a life well lived? Cherie further notes;

Great literature earns the name by quickening and enlarging one’s imaginative capacity to engage these questions. It shows, rather than tells, the possibilities for love, courage, kindness, grace, justice, and redemption. It opens the heart, as well as the mind, by engaging our empathy and imagination, as well as our reason. It may well be the reason that Jesus told stories more than he delivered sermons. (CH)

I am reminded, that long after yesterday’s celebrities have been forgotten, today’s families, children, youth and graduates will remember — and be shaped by — those who cared enough to invest in them, by offering their own lives and stories. Jesus in his life demonstrated that the the gift of story and example does impart values. In some of his teachings Jesus said;

²⁴So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a ^[a]sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. ²⁵And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. ²⁷And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell–and great and complete was the fall of it. (Mathew 7:24-27).

On Salvation

On the matter of Salvation, Paul wrote in Romans 9:16,

“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

Jesus said to Nicodemus,

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again….Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit…..The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3,6,8)

No one can be saved apart from God’s Word. St. Paul writes in Romans 8:13&14,

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

Abraham was an idol worshipper from Iraq when God came looking for him. Isaac was born in a barren womb. Jacob was loved and chosen by God when he was still an unborn fetus. Joseph was a spoiled brat whose pride and big mouth got him sold into slavery. But God took him from prison and made him the Prime Minister of Egypt.

The people of Israel were idol worshippers when God rescued them from Egypt. St. Paul was an enemy of Christ, on the Road to Damascus to arrest and murder Christians, when our Lord found him and transformed his heart. Paul writes in another place,

“For it is by grace you are saved, through faith. And even that is a gift of God, and not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8&9)

“Thank God, we are here.”

In Joshua chapter 5, Joshua sense God’s timing to face what lies ahead. The question is, how do you roll away bad memories like wilderness experience and the Egyptian slavery? The text suggests that you can cast off the evil in your memory by incorporating it into a God-centered festival like Passover.

Forty years! Moses started the trek, but later God calls Joshua in to finish the journey. Each one of these years, God provided manna for them in the desert. A type of food — probably a bit bland — but good enough to see them through. Six days a week they collected manna every morning and then, on Friday, they collected a little more to hold them through the sabbath on Saturday. For forty years God provided. Day after day, God fed them, manna in the wilderness.  But now, in Joshua 5, the Israelites finally get to the promised land.

⁹ Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal^[a] to this day.  ¹⁰ On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. ¹¹ The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.¹² The manna stopped the day after^[b] they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. (Joshua 5:9 -12).

After forty years of the kids whining every morning “are we there yet” the parents can finally say, “Thank God, we are here.” The promised land. And what do they do? How do they remember God’s faithfulness that saw them through even when even when wandered far from God? Well, they ate. The Israelites held the Passover feast. It was the right time of the year — the fourteenth day of the right month — and so they held the feast, commemorating the day God delivered them in Egypt.

Joshua doesn’t go into the details of the Passover in these verses, but they had it — a ritual feast to remember God’s faithfulness to them since they were slaves in Egypt, a feast also, to commemorate a new beginning in the promised land.

The children of Israel are in the land of promise. A new place. No more wilderness wandering.  The reproach of the old life is rolled away. It was a new beginning for them. It is the same for us when our sins are rolled away. Jesus through the cross has led us into our inheritance, the spiritual “Promised Land.”

God’s Grace

What do you do when you have danced in triumph on the banks of the Red Sea only to find yourself dying of thirst on the banks of the Marah three days later?  In the afterglow of the amazing miracle at the Red Sea, the Israelites are giddy with excitement.  But after the celebration, reality sets in.  Standing between them and their hope is the desert.  And you canít get to the Promised Land without going through the desert.

Exodus 16 reads;

¹ And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt.

² Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

⁴ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.

From this passage we see Moses faced  with what we might think is comparable to “crisis of recession.” This is a crisis that comes from an awareness that one does not have the means to meet basic needs, at least not without pain and sacrifice.  Moses shows the right perspective here.

• He shows trust in God in order to help the flock develop trust.
• He shows  patience in order to give time for others to “come to know.”
• He recognizes  the importance of short-term wins in order to maintain some sense of hope and confidence.

When you read the passages before and after this particular text, you notice that Moses left the familiar, did the unusual, defied the critics, took no shortcuts — all actions requiring considerable effort to maintain perspective.

This text has been considered the manna story. This story  is not about what they were eating but rather about three things;

• God’s trustworthy generosity.
• The need for equity in the distribution of resources related to basic human needs such as food.
• Reassurance in the face of common human urges to hoard out of fear and anxiety for the future.

These three things teaches us that the journey to a new place is;

• A shared responsibility,
• A collective project that derives its authority from a cooperative attachment to mutually defined commitments, values, and smart visions and strategies.

There are too many moving parts when trying to find solutions to complex problems. We must be willing  to;

• Listen to the Spirit of God and to one another
• Willingly accept delegated responsibility
• Contribute what one is able
• Hold the tension of the tragic gap between what it is and what is yet to be
• Maintain perspective and
• Witness the God’s Provision.