Good Good Father

One thing I truly love is doing character studies! I find it so fascinating WHO God chooses to use! The nuggets of wisdom can be life changing. Recently, I have found myself back to studying Moses once again (for about the zillionth time). Studying his life and the Israelites can be an endless treasure of insight into God, ourselves, and the lengths He goes to show us how relentlessly He cares and loves us!!

As I read Exodus 16, a familiar passage of scripture to many….I am reminded of God’s instructions to the Israelites. There are two main points I’d like to share about this passage….so today we will cover the first.

Point number one, chapter 16 picks up where the Israelites have been on the move for 1 month.  Now, let’s remember they have been miraculously cared for and “carried” by God Almighty!! They are first hand witnesses to God’s mighty workings! There’s no doubt of WHO stepped in to take them out of a place of bondage! There’s no doubt of WHO rescued them from the Egyptian chains of bondage!! And there is no doubt WHO performed mighty miracles in the face of their enemies.  YETTTTT, they sat their miserable, ungrateful selves down in the Wilderness of Sin (that’s a whole other message!) and began whining and complaining (sorry if that sounds a little harsh) Don’t we find that incredibly ridiculous? They actually had the nerve to complain? Like seriously? As we all shake our heads….roll our eyes…..we kinda find it easy to point our fingers at the Israelites because its in the Bible and its such a blatant disrespect to God.  Yet….If we are truly honest with ourselves, don’t we do the same sometimes? Don’t we get into a  “wilderness” place or situation and look around wondering how we got there? And in a moment of complete dismay the thoughts start pummeling and before we know it….the complaining begins! We forget. Well, THEY HAD FORGOTTEN to!! Forgotten all that God had ALREADY done for them! They had forgotten all that He promised! They forgot about the miracles, they forgot about the freedom after 400 years of slavery, and they had forgotten that God was a God of His word!! They forgot!  Have you forgotten? Have you dismissed the times God has swept in and saved your little self ? Have you forgotten how HE’S brought you through to the other side?  And what about ALL THE TIMES you don’t even know about where He saved your sweet self? Well, thankfully we serve a merciful, loving Father! And He’s consistently, relentlessly involved on our behalf. Even when we don’t know it!!

So, when you find yourself in a place of frustration, ready to let the grumbling roll off your lips….STOP, think about ALL your Father has shown up for on your behalf!

Let’s REMEMBER…remember that HE IS ALWAYS PRESENT, ALWAYS THERE FOR US, ALWAYS READY TO GET US THROUGH!! Let’s remember HIS FAITHFULNESS!! ALL THE THINGS HE’S ALREADY DONE!!

He is so Good!! (there’s an amazing song about that…”Good Good Father” by Chris Tomlin…take a listen!!