Image from newlifenarrabri.blogspot.com
Hear the narration here: https://bit.ly/32TaGrL
1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Reph'idim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people found fault with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you find fault with me? Why do you put the LORD to the proof?" 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" 4 So Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Mer'ibah, because of the faultfinding of the children of Israel, and because they put the LORD to the proof by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" (Exodus 17:1-7 RSV)
A Happy Wednesday to you, and Happy Fall, Friend! As if, we could tell the difference! Just kidding, the weather in these parts has been cool because of the rain and the storm clouds thanks to Hurricane Beta. I pray all are staying safe, especially in those areas. Our daughter in Houston is safe, but their neighborhood is connected to the outside world by two major thoroughfares that are flooded. They are fine, thanks to God. As we pray, we learn of another death, Coach Sonny Detmer, of Somerset High School, but formerly of Mission High School; Sonny was one of the winningest football coaches in the state, having two sons who excelled at the sport. When he and I were in Mission, we enjoyed each other's company and he would come to speak at our Rotary Club in the fall at my invitation, and always presented a superb program. His youngest son is now the head coach at Mission High School. Pray for the family's comfort and peace. We continue to pray for any, anywhere and everywhere who need God's special touch of healing upon their lives.
Are we there yet, part two! First, it was the food situation. No Golden Arches in the wilderness and no Buc-ees! And we studied how God answered that question and plight; by providing out-of-this-world bread that you can only get in good panaderias* in South Texas, and every white wing hunter's dream, quail for supper. Every.single.night. Now, the traveling youth caravan with no chaperones reached that point of realizing that no one can live on Slurpees and boba teas; they were thirsty. They needed H2O for swallowing the salt tablets, because Gatorade was not yet invented! (Raise your hands if you were one of the many victims of handfuls of salt tablets after hot summer workouts and practices. Where were you, Gatorade in those days? To this day I would rather drink a bottle or two of cold Gatorade than a handful of sweaty salt tablets! I I digress... We know that sand, sun, and scorching heat do not go well without water. It's like going to the beach and expecting to drink ocean water if you get thirsty. No bueno. The miles of walking in the hot sun of the wilderness were enough for them to reach the point of asking youth minister Moses, if he could please stop the church van at the next Stripes convenience store, please? Please!! PLLLEEEZUS!!
And, do you notice this group never forgets where they have come from, in terms of there being plenty of food and plenty of drinking water, but conveniently forget they were slaves there. They worked harder there and risked severe beatings and punishments for not meeting quotas and their chances for a good future were very limited. "I'd rather be there than here!" This is said on the necessity at hand, rather than a careful reflection of what is truly at stake. It's not wonder that Jesus said, "They who set their hand to the plow should not look back." He knew what was at risk by looking back and not concentrating on the hard work necessary to make possible the crop for the year, etc. etc. And so, the congregation was very angry at Moses. Some were even composing letters to the bishop and the district superintendent. (If you're in ministry and never had a letter written about you, you weren't doing your job well!). And, Moses takes it to God. "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The only bright spot was Moses didn't have a parsonage to go home to pack up his things if he got the "call" informing him that his tenure at Salt Lick Desert, TX was over. God simply says for Moses to take the rod which he had used at the Nile and go in front of the people and there at the rock where God would be present, Moses was to strike the rock and water would come out of it! And he did. And the water it did flow! And friends, the water in the Holy Land is something to behold. Our trip two years ago took us to some beautiful places where the water was stunning in beauty and in strength. One can only imagine this divinely-touched water from God out of a rock! And Moses named that place, I TOLD YOU GOD WAS HERE BUT YOU WERE TOO BUSY GRIPING THAT YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IT! Okay, it was named Massah and Mar'ibah, which basically means the same thing. Okay, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
How much the above looks like points in my life, and perhaps yours; where we need something and we begin to think that God should provide it right then and there. Because God knows how busy we are! And God knows how important we are! And how much ahead we are of others, so, it's the least God can do is to serve me first! Honestly, it is our privilege to suffer for God, and it is a special privilege to wait on God while God is with us. And the blessings come when we realize that not then, nor now, are we ever alone.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes the journey does seem long. And sometimes it seems as if we are going around in circles. And sometimes the challenges of food and water, shelter, clothing, all seem to attack us at once; but Father we rest in You and Your promises, that we would never face anything alone, and without Your guidance. You know our situation and we pray You guide and lead us; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help a fellow believer in his/her journey today!
Receive my blessings of peace and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
