The Loves of My Life

The Loves of My Life

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Forgetful People- Lesson #1


Our Church is currently working it's way through the book of Exodus. 

Exodus is actually one of the more exciting books in the Old Testament with lots of action going on with plagues, slaughtered lambs over doors, combustible bushes,  and it's very own Survivor Man but with a group of people instead of one.

I am always amazed at how I can learn something new from scripture that I somehow didn't "get" before.

This time there are two things that have struck me....one that gets to my heart and the other to my theology.

The first one is that the Israelites were such forgetful people (the second I will blog about tomorrow). They continue to see God's power save them over and over again....and yet they constantly complained in the wilderness. 
Let's face it, they were babies.

God splits the Red Sea for  them to walk through and keeps them safe from the Egyptians and a few days later they are wining to Moses about how they should have stayed in Egypt. 
God delivers them out of slavery....the beatings and sweatshop conditions and they cry to Moses about how awful God is to them.
Over and over they cry and complain......and yet, God in His lovingness...still saves them, still delivers them, still provides for them.....and still loves them.

I don't know about you but I would have dropped them like a (insert funny pop culture reference here-and feel free to post in comments) and looked to another group of people.

But as I was reading this time, I felt like I was looking in a mirror. How many times have I been delivered, saved and provided for....and yet I still doubt God. For the most part...I trust God....but then there are those stressful moments that I freak out, panic and have anxiety.

This series comes at a good time for me. Here I am about to have a baby any day and we put our house on the market to sell. I mean that's CRAZINESS. Normally, I would have been freaking out and worried about everything...if we will sell, how we will live, where we will, and how we can do all this while adjusting to a newborn.

But going through this series with our church has caused me to look back and see how God has parted the seas in my life

how He has delivered me from bad situations 

and how He has always provided what I needed.

......and I am done stressing, wining and complaining. I don't want to be like the Israelites any longer. When a unexpected bill comes, I don't want to be stressed. I want to be confident in God's provision for me.

And I can finally say that I am. I feel at peace with God leading us. We don't know what house we will be in nor how things will go with having a third baby....but I know My God is with me, He is mighty to Save.
He has been faithful to me in all my days, and now I know....in my heart and mind that He is with me....he dwells with me wherever I go.

It feels good to be on this side of things rather than the stressful side. Friends comment that I must be going crazy with all the things to do...have a baby, pack etc etc.

But I just smile....because I don't feel overwhelmed, or stressed...I feel God's peace, His provision and His ability to part the Seas, send Manna from Heaven and provide water through rocks.

5 comments:

aurelia said...

I'm so glad you've been given that perspective right now. Hold on to it. It reminds me of a verse we just memorized in CBS Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for the one who promised is faithful.

Anonymous said...

I would have dropped them like kids chasing greased pigs at a 4-H competition.

Heidi said...

Thank you for this post.

Trust is one of the things I struggle with the most. I worry about everything. And then I worry about worrying too much... It's a vicious cycle.

Thank you for the reminder that I'm the only one who can take myself out of it.

Diane Davis said...

another great post. i'll be thinking of you tomorrow. that you won't forget and that god will be near.

Corrina said...

I love Old Testament stories! My favorite sermon series I did was on the people of Israel. The stuff is SO rich.