In Remembrance of

In the book of Exodus chapter 17 we read about Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness engaged in a battle with the Amalekites. God had led them from the Wilderness of Sin (yes that is the actual name) to Rephidim…. A place where there was NO WATER for the people to drink. Immediately the people contended with Moses, murmuring and complaining and testing God. Their words beginning in verses 2-3, “Therefore the people contended with Moses and said, “give us water so that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “why do you contend with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people MURMURED against Moses, and said, “why is it that you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Now as we read through this you’re probably asking yourself, “why would God lead them through the desert to a place where there is no water??” But let’s take a look back prior to this point in time. If we can go all the way back to Exodus chapter 7, there begins a long series of many many miraculous events for Moses and the Israelites. We start with the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and the 10 plagues, from there the great Exodus, to the crossing of the Red Sea, to the Wilderness of Shur where they found no water and the miracle of the water made sweet, to the wilderness of Sin where God rained manna DAILY for 40 years! Now let’s try to see this picture clearly… So the Israelites EXPERIENCED the physical, miraculous hand of God time and time (and time and time…) again! AND YET, murmuring, complaining, dissatisfaction, and lack of thankfulness was all that arose from the Israelites! Remember in verse 2 Moses said to the Israelites, “why do you CONTEND with me? Why do you TEST the Lord?” Do you think there’s a reason why the children of Israel SAT (stuck) in the Wilderness of Sin and ate manna for 40 YEARS? YESSSSS….40 YEARS!!! Do you think God was unreasonable? Do you think God is a mean God? Do you think God didn’t care about His people? Or do you think that possibly because from the onset of the exodus out of Egypt for the children of Israel the constant murmuring, complaining, and lack of thankfulness for EVERY SINGLE MIRACULOUS EVENT for the Israelites was casually dismissed like a stubborn child throwing a tantrum wanting his way?! The lack of remembrance of God’s goodness, of His faithfulness, and His love was casually dismissed and easily forgotten!!! They had harden their hearts to the goodness of God!
Let’s not get stuck and sit in the Wilderness of Sin because we CASUALLY or CARELESSLY dismiss and forget all that the Lord has done for us ALREADY! There are things God has done and protected you from that you don’t even know about and won’t know about till you’re in heaven! When contending with a dry place, a hard place, a disastrous place, don’t dwell on those times!! CHOOSE to remember ALL the times He brought you through! All the times He answered your prayers! Be careful to be THANKFUL for each step even when they’re really small.