Worst question you could ever ask !

Friday 28 May 2021

Worst question you could ever ask !

“The Israelites provoked the Lord, saying : Is the Lord in our midst, yes or no ?” Exodus 17.7

The Israelites had been in the wilderness for a little over two months and complained that they had been abandoned by God because they were thirsty! God had protected them, before crossing the Red Sea, by positioning himself between the pursuing Egyptians and the pursued people. God had fed them, manna and quail, when they were hungry, and had not left them with a sole. However, when they arrived in Rephidim, a normally lush valley, whose name means "Resting place", they were complaining again, this time about the lack of water. Normally there is no shortage of this place and the people therefore expected to rest there and enjoy all that this palm grove could offer them. Disappointed by the reality, they cry out : "Is the Lord in our midst, yes or no ?" Because they expected to find something to satisfy them on their own, they quickly forget that they constantly need God for their survival. Isn't that a lesson for us : when reality doesn't match our expectations, don't we often seek to blame Him for our disappointment ? We forget Job's words : “We accept good from God, and would we not also accept evil ?” (Job 2. 10). When we cross our “wilderness”, do not fall into the trap of doubting God's promises. Moses cried out : “for the Lord your God Himself will walk with you. He will not forsake you, He will not forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31.6). Whether you are crossing a fertile plain or a barren desert, God is never far from you. Even if you do not feel His presence, whatever, lean on this promise, repeated several times in the Scriptures : "I will never forsake you...". The frustration that God experiences each time one of His children asks this “absurd” question does not prevent Him from showing grace and patience with him. So trust Him !

Source (His Word for Today)