A new home! New to you at least, but this is the place you've been waiting for! In the case of many pastors, this is a scene repeated so many times that the sense of newness may be lost; but at least for a moment or a day or so, it is said, "This is our new home." And so it is. In the case of Israel, the people of God, upon arrival into their new home, God declared to them a great word of a promise fulfilled, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." God heard their cries and they were set free from the bondage of slavery and took them on a forty year journey through the desert to form them as His people. And to reach the promised land, they had reached that which God had long ago promised. To spend the night in this new home was a fulfillment of promise. The disgrace of slavery, suffering, oppression, shame, death from harsh working conditions was now "rolled away." Notice the choice of language and remember it so that when you hear that phrase at Easter you'll be reminded of the number of times God has and will roll away from us things that separate us from Him.
The arrival also marked a day when they could celebrate the remembrance of the Passover, the event that led to their freedom. And on the day after the passover, they ate of the harvest of the land, unleavened bread and parched grain. It was a feast of celebration that indeed the new home now has all that they needed to survive. It was also on that day that the manna, the bread from heaven, ended. They were now able to produce their own food.
Look around when you can at the place you call home. God has provided it as a place for your life to be blessed. When you get a chance look at the provision of food you may have in this house and remember again, that God has provided this as well. Many of us have more than we need, and many of us know we are called to be generous with God in our worship and generous in sharing with the needs of those not as fortunate as ourselves. If your church has a food drive contribute with gladness that God's blessings to you can be the blessings of others. If you church does not have a food drive or food pantry, start one! Let your church become a blessing point for those in need, and let the story be told again and again, all that we have, has come from the loving hands of God.
PRAYER: Loving God, we are a blessed people. Your loving hands have provided for our needs and today we want to share with others. Keep my eyes always open to what You have and are doing in my life. Let my life be a blessing to others. I pray this in the precious and powerful name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
