January 20, 2016

“The Israelites left the desert and moved from one place to another each time the LORD ordered them to. Once they camped at Rephidim,[a] but there was no water for them to drink. The people started complaining to Moses, “Give us some water!” Moses replied, “Why are you complaining to me and trying to put the LORD to the test?” But the people were thirsty and kept on complaining, “Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt just to let us and our families and our animals die of thirst?” Then Moses prayed to the LORD, “What am I going to do with these people? They are about to stone me to death!” Exodus 17:1-4

Change is rarely easy when the change is necessary – when the change comes from outside our own thinking. Though the Israelites were not happy being slaves in Egypt, still their needs were provided and they were cared for. However, the more they grew in number, the more Egypt would likely oppress them. So, it was necessary for G-d to send Moses to free them from slavery and set them on the path to freedom. And so they followed – though we could say they were reluctant to the change in environment – and their fears usually came out in the form of complaints. “We have no water to drink”. “We are tired of this manna”.

When You begin something new, like taking on a bible reading plan, it often comes with some complaining. “I don’t have the time to read”. “I just don’t understand it anyway”.

Starting something new is taking the step towards stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone. And just resolve yourself to the reality that you will struggle with some of what you read, you will not understand some of what you read, and you will be enriched by most of what you read.

“If you are tired of starting over, then just stop giving up.” This is one of my favorite quotes from the instructor on the exercise program my wife and I are currently following. And, as Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find.”

Pastor Dave