We have been driven out of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea and now we will read Exodus 15-18.
I can see some direct parallels in America today. Here we have been through five years of Covid affecting our communities. High inflation has stifled growth. The only real growth has been rehiring the jobs that were impacted by the shutdown.
What happens now?
We now have new leadership in the White House and people are waiting to see what happens next.
At this moment conservatives are singing praise songs, thanking the Lord for His deliverance, much like Moses in the opening verses of chapter 15. The Lord has become our salvation, and this is a time we all should praise Him.
What we need to be watching for is how closely the new administration stays with God.
Dropping to verse 22, we read that after only three days in the desert; the people grumble against Moses. People demand instant and continuous results. It took a lot of promise making for President Trump to get elected. Now, if the people are not seeing America move back to the values he espoused, they will grumble.
We must obey God
Scripture assures us that if we listen to the Lord our God and do what is right in his eyes, he will protect and heal our country. (Ex 15:26, NIV)
And the Lord gives us specific instructions throughout scripture on what He wants from us, see 16:4 for an example. But as we read, the people are not always so good at following instructions, and when they don’t; they are quick to grumble again.
There will be those who are greedy and want to take more than they need, and this will cause their demise. Just as those who tried to get ahead of the Lord and save some of the manna for the next day found maggots and stench, we too will find that not following the Lord’s leading will backfire us.
God must be wondering, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?” as He asks Moses in 16:28.
The people of Israel had seen God lead them by the pillar of fire and cloud. They had seen Him part the Red Sea, provide water from a rock and fed them day after day. But they still would not trust in Him. They always believed they should establish the rules themselves.
His grace is sufficient
Perhaps, like us, they were having a hard time understanding why the Lord does the things He does. It is not because we deserve it. We have earned His wrath, yet He provides us with grace.
Moses directs Aaron to collect some manna and preserve it in a jar for generations to come in 16:33.
If we are going to have a free America to pass on to our grandkids, and beyond, we must protect that heritage. God has blessed us with a rich culture that we are watching crumble as we allow sin to prevail throughout our society.
Just like the people in Ex 17:3 who grumble about water, asking if Moses had led them out of Egypt to die in the desert. We forget all that God has done for us, and then have no faith He will do it again.
They ask in verse 7, “Is the Lord among us or not?”. Faith is knowing He will never leave us. He will continue to provide if we follow His commands and instructions, but we don’t!
Get in the game
Maybe we try, but we just get tired? Like Moses in 17:12, we get worn out and need our friends to come alongside of us and help us hold up our hands. God provides the victory when we keep our end of the deal.
It is easier to stay on the sidelines, do whatever we feel is right for us, and then hope someone else will get the job done.
Throughout our society, there are so many spectators, and they are the ones who grumble the loudest, who want someone else to make things happen.
Some will step up, but like Moses judging all the cases, they are soon overwhelmed and burned out. We all need to participate. Life is not a spectator sport. We all have to be in the game doing all we can to help our leaders bring the victory.
