Beetow
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- Joined
- Apr 19, 2020
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- 2,538
The 15th of Exodus records a curious incident.
Jehovah had only just recently protected Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptian
army by means of a remarkable miracle at the Red Sea; (not to mention all the
miracles that led up to their leaving the land) which inspired the people to compose
a cheerful victory ballad; plus the women, led by Moses' sister Miriam, broke out
with dancing.
Three days later; Moses lead them directly to a source of water that was unfit for
human consumption. (Ex 15:1-23)
And the people became obstinate.
• Ex 15:24 . . So the people grumbled at Moses, saying: What shall we drink?
Well; I think we can improve on that like this: And just what are we supposed to
drink; this stuff?!
Now, one thing that experienced Christians have learned is to never, ever complain
about the quality, the quantity, the nature, and/or the absence of God's providence.
They can pray "Lead us not into temptation" but they're wise enough to expect that
the child development expert in heaven is going to lead them into difficulties now
and then anyway.
I hazard a guess that Moses' people had come to the point in their experience with
Jehovah where they had a chosen-people, master-race mentality, viz: the attitude
of a privileged child and no doubt felt that they had a right to expect nothing but
the best from God.
Well they were right about "the best" but what they didn't know at the time is that
the road to God's best is sometimes paved with speed bumps.
• 1Cor 10:11-13 . . Now these things happened to them as an example, and they
were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have
come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
. . . No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with
the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure
it.
_
Jehovah had only just recently protected Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptian
army by means of a remarkable miracle at the Red Sea; (not to mention all the
miracles that led up to their leaving the land) which inspired the people to compose
a cheerful victory ballad; plus the women, led by Moses' sister Miriam, broke out
with dancing.
Three days later; Moses lead them directly to a source of water that was unfit for
human consumption. (Ex 15:1-23)
And the people became obstinate.
• Ex 15:24 . . So the people grumbled at Moses, saying: What shall we drink?
Well; I think we can improve on that like this: And just what are we supposed to
drink; this stuff?!
Now, one thing that experienced Christians have learned is to never, ever complain
about the quality, the quantity, the nature, and/or the absence of God's providence.
They can pray "Lead us not into temptation" but they're wise enough to expect that
the child development expert in heaven is going to lead them into difficulties now
and then anyway.
I hazard a guess that Moses' people had come to the point in their experience with
Jehovah where they had a chosen-people, master-race mentality, viz: the attitude
of a privileged child and no doubt felt that they had a right to expect nothing but
the best from God.
Well they were right about "the best" but what they didn't know at the time is that
the road to God's best is sometimes paved with speed bumps.
• 1Cor 10:11-13 . . Now these things happened to them as an example, and they
were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have
come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
. . . No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with
the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure
it.
_
