“Is the Lord in our midst or not?” Exodus 17:2

After the Israelites left Egypt for the land of Promise, they grumbled their way through the hot miserable desert.  Even though God had demonstrated His watchful care for them, they still felt alone facing the threat of starvation and thirst.  God did provide………both manna and quail and water from rocks and probably wells which might have been previously dug by the native peoples living there.  However, this is a huge group of people. 

They complained.  Their memories of the good food and homes in Egypt made them regret leaving……. even though it meant slavery.  They wanted the creature comforts and seemed forgetful of what they had suffered under the Pharoah. 

                              Would you have been one of them?

How long does our faith endure when we are tested?  “Is the Lord in our midst or not?”  In other words, is He keeping up with me?

The people had little choice but to depend on God.  No grain fields, no ready water supply, no real food.  The melons, grain, fruits, barley bread were left behind.  Their belly seemed more important than their freedom.

They complained to Moses in certain terms.  “Why did you bring us out here to suffer?  We weren’t so bad off in Egypt.  At least we weren’t starving. “(Ex :16)

                           God did respond.  He sent what they needed. 

But it was a daily exercise in faith.  Every day, they had to gather.  They needed faith for each day, that the manna would fall, and the water would flow. Only on the seventh day, the Sabbath, they were not to gather.  They must gather enough for two days, if not, then they had no food to eat. 

                                    God worked miracles for them.

But what about here and now?  Our we content with our “Daily Bread?”

The Lord used that same wording in what we call the Lord’s Prayer.  Each day we are to ask for our daily portion of what God provides. 

                                               And be thankful

In the Lord’s Prayer, (aka Disciple’s Prayer) Jesus tells his disciples that they are only to ask for the daily bread.    What, no long-term bread? 

In other words, we must consider each day a blessing for what the Lord provides.  Too often we take our blessings for granted.  Our daily bread is simply a matter of getting it off the shelf.  Our food as well as our homes, clothes, and creature comforts are all expected.  We rarely think to thank our Father for providing them.

I’m learning to take each day as a gift.  A blessing to live in America, food on the table, good friends and family.  Since each day is a gift, then tomorrow is up to Him. 

                        Yes, the Lord is in our midst………..you can depend on it.