Trust 101

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.Exodus 15:27New International Version (NIV)

 

A child learns to trust its parents as its needs are met on a consistent and loving basis.  When they’re hungry, we feed them. When they’re uncomfortable because of a dirty diaper, we change them. When they need reassurance and love, we do that too, because we love them. And they learn to trust us because of that consistent care.

It’s the same with a new Christian, or a person who’s working through abuse issues. They 
need to know that God can be trusted because he loves them. The Israelites had just witnessed God’s great deliverance. He killed the Egyptians – their enemies could never again come after them and take them back to the place of brutal slavery. God already showed them that he would protect them.

Now, the wilderness provided God with a perfect incubator to show his people time and again that he would provide for them and that he loved them. In the wilderness, they would experience trust for the first time.

First lesson – water provision.

Now that their enemies were no longer a threat, their most pressing need was water. Yet, the first place they stopped to refill their water skins was Marah, where the water was so bitter they couldn’t drink it.  Instead of asking their God for help, they complained to Moses.

1. In Egypt, they had lived in Goshen, a delta area of the Nile so there would have been adequate drinking water. Here in the wilderness, water was scarce. (The need)
2. It would be difficult to find enough water to  take care of the need of such a large group of people (A problem)
3. As slaves, they probably had water withheld from them if they didn’t perform adequately. So when they faced the bitter waters of Mara, they may have feared that God was punishing them and was going to kill them. (Their perception - Slave mentality)
4. Instead of worshipping their strong God who had delivered them, and asking him for what they needed, they grumbled against Moses and God. It was a fear-based reaction (Their reactions)
5. Moses lost patience with them, but he still went to God because he knew God and trusted him. (Moses' reaction and response)
6. God showed Moses how to make the water drinkable. (God’s response to Moses)
7. Moses modeled  the trust and ask behaviors the Israelites needed to learn. God met their need at Marah in response to Moses' trust. Then God directed Moses to bring them to Elim where there were springs of fresh water and 70 palm trees for shade. (God reinforced the lesson of His provision.)

What lessons has God taught you about trust through your Christian journey? Has he ever used a person to model the behaviors he wanted to teach you?

I’d love to hear about your experiences!
Blessings,
Bonnie

Surviving Life's Storms

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

We can prepare for some things in life.

For example, Since Dan and I went through a severe ice storm in northern NY many years ago where we were without power for 6 days in the dead of winter, we take weather threats seriously.

We knew late last week that there was a chance for Hurricane Sandy to swirl over Central PA where we live. So we watched the weather for updates on her projected path. When we knew it would probably go right over top of us, we prepared by making sure we had batteries, propane gas for our camping stove and lamps, and essential food. I also drew several coolers of water for drinking and a tub full for other uses.

So far, our power has not gone out and we don't need the extra things we gathered up just in case the storm was bad. But we are among the fortunate since the news is filled with images of New York City and the Jersey coast where storm surges, wind and rain have paralyzed parts of the area and caused a lot of destruction. It could have been far worse here in our area.

Throughout our lives, we are buffeted by powerful life storms that leave us off balance or in the dark. Some of these storms come with warning signs while other storms come up unexpectedly, knocking us for a spiritual loop and threatening to undermine our faith

In all of life's storms, there are some constant truths -

1. We can't get through them by ourselves. We need the strength and support of the Lord and others to make it through. Whenever possible we should heed those storm warnings and do what we can to be ready by seeking advice or counsel and talking through our doubts and fears with those we trust. Asking for help and prayer support is essential too.

2. We need to strengthen our faith and our relationship with the Lord on a daily basis so we are prepared - at least minimally - for those unexpected difficulties.

Lord, this morning we pray for those who have been severely affected by Hurricane Sandy. May this storm help us to understand our need to prepare our hearts on a daily basis for the spiritual and emotional storms of life so we are able to stand strong through them. Amen.