Daily Archives: 23 Feb 2022

2022, Christian Living, Exodus, Questions

Camp Rephidim

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In part Exodus 17: 3 reads: ” . . .  “For what did you bring us up from Egypt? . . . “  source 


Again, in this passage, the Hebrews are complaining. This time they are thirsty. They want water. 
We can’t blame them for that, can we? Three days with no water and we die. Right? 

Lack.  Let’s define it. 

an insufficiency, shortage, or absence of something required or desired
something that is required but is absent or in short supply  
source 

A lack of water is serious. That I dare not deny.
Neither would you, I figure. 
So what’s the problem with the complaining? 
Good question. 
If you read the Text, I think you will discover the problem with complaining.

Even a secular 21st Century dictionary gives us a clear definition for complaining.

To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge; file a complaint.
source 

 

See that word resentment? 
Read the Exodus Passage and I think you will agree — there was much resentment in the Camp at Rephidim.

Complaining.

Their complaining was not a request for water made in faith,
it was a lack of TRUST in the face of Lack. 

They were accusing Moses and ultimately GOD of wrongdoing, of not caring, of not loving them.  

We don’t want to do that.
When we are without water; rather than complaining, we want to remember GOD is ALWAYS GOOD and we are ALWAYS LOVED. 

Remembering, trusting, relying on these two facts will keep us out of the Camp of Rephidim.

Now I think the foregoing is good. 
I think it will help us when we embrace it; but, it’s not the point I came here to make. 

The Hebrews asked a good question with a wrong attitude. 

” . . .  “For what did you bring us up from Egypt? . . . ”

 

It’s a question we need to ask the Father in humble adoration, seeking His direction for us. 

Why did HE bring us out of Egypt?
Why did HE save us from sin, hell, and the grave? 

To keep on complaining?
Absolutely not! 

So why did HE save you? 
Has HE saved you? 

Now what?

1 Kings, 2022, Christian Living, It's a Bonus Post, Questions

Feed Me First

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1 Kings 17

Perhaps it’s just me but I think it would be hard to do what Elijah did. 
I think it would be hard to ask the Widow of Zarephath to feed me first. 
Feed me before you feed your son or yourself. 
I just think that was not an easy request to make. 
I think he had to have a sure Word from The LORD to come up with such a thought as that!

You see I think speaking the Truth of GOD to the people of the world can look like hate to them. 

But he was not talking to a woman of the world, he was talking to a woman who believed GOD. 
What do you think? 

She obeyed. 
She cooked what looked to be the last of her meal and her oil, but it wasn’t. 
The Bible tells us 

15 She went and acted according to what Eliyahu had said; and she, he and her household had food to eat for a long time.
16 The pot of meal did not get used up, nor did there fail to be oil in the jug, in fulfillment of the word of Adonai spoken through Eliyahu.
Source 

Would you think with me how amazing this is? 
This Widow from Zarephath likely did not have her own set of Old Testament Scrolls and neither did she have the indwelling Holy Spirit but she obeyed GOD in the face of not only her death but the death of her son. 
I have to ask — what excuse do we have for disobedience?

But I can’t leave us here just yet; one more thing. 

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD. 
Do you know that Scripture? Romans 10:17 

It worked that way in Zarephath too. 
Here’s how I know. 

13 Eliyahu said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go; and do what you said; but first, use a little of it to make me a small loaf of bread; and bring it out to me. After that, make food for yourself and your son.
14 For this is what Adonai the God of Isra’el, says: ‘The pot of meal will not get used up, nor will there fail to be oil in the jug, until the day Adonai sends rain down on the land.’” 
source 

Faith (trust) cometh by hearing and hearing by the WORD of GOD. 
He spoke the WORD of GOD to her; she heard and she acted in faith – she trusted the WORD of GOD she heard. 

So I have to ask again.
What excuse do we have?