Now that the...
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Now that the Russians finally got rid of the communist regime, they are complaining that there is no longer any free medical care and no income if they don't have jobs!
That is standard among humans. They were complaining in the U.S. about lack of medical care, but when Congress approves a program, they complain that the program is too expensive for some!
We have all heard about the complaints against the ELCA for its reduction in pension benefits. It doesn't take much searching to find something to complain about.
The list would take too many days to complete! We here in the west were always complaining about the lack of water. Even the Rio Grande was no longer so grand! Someone must have complained to the Lord, because now we are flooding!
How many times has the Lord solved one problem for us and then we have another complaint for him? Where is our faith? Where is our patience?
In spite of their complaints -- or maybe because of them -- Moses goes to find some water. Out of his love, our Lord answered their cry instead of bawling them out for complaining. Notice that they directed their complaint against Moses, not God. They are ready to take their vengeance out against Moses, so Moses turns to the only source we have, our God, and he is given directions to find water. He knows that it ultimately falls on God. He shouts back to them, "Why do you put God to the test?" That's where the buck stops. I hope we know that!
Pastors may also take the brunt of members' complaints. Why aren't we bringing in more new members? Why aren't we increasing the income? We complain against the synod for the same reason. We wouldn't dare go over their heads and blame God! But as Moses says, we are putting God to the test. The question we may have after reading this is: Would God let them die of thirst in they didn't complain and ask for an answer? How long must they wait? Is God testing them? We have to be careful about the lesson here that if we complain loud enough, our prayers may be answered but God will not be happy.
Moses brought witnesses to see water come when his staff hit the rock. He wanted all of them to know who answered their "prayers." He wanted them to know that it was the Lord who was among them.
He is among us also. The Lord has done so many things for us. How can we doubt that he will give us what we need? As Jesus also said, "If we ask our Father for bread, will he give us a stone?" I think God gives us some periods of doubt and problems to test our faith and to see if we are only concerned about ourselves and can't wait for his good timing.
That is standard among humans. They were complaining in the U.S. about lack of medical care, but when Congress approves a program, they complain that the program is too expensive for some!
We have all heard about the complaints against the ELCA for its reduction in pension benefits. It doesn't take much searching to find something to complain about.
The list would take too many days to complete! We here in the west were always complaining about the lack of water. Even the Rio Grande was no longer so grand! Someone must have complained to the Lord, because now we are flooding!
How many times has the Lord solved one problem for us and then we have another complaint for him? Where is our faith? Where is our patience?
In spite of their complaints -- or maybe because of them -- Moses goes to find some water. Out of his love, our Lord answered their cry instead of bawling them out for complaining. Notice that they directed their complaint against Moses, not God. They are ready to take their vengeance out against Moses, so Moses turns to the only source we have, our God, and he is given directions to find water. He knows that it ultimately falls on God. He shouts back to them, "Why do you put God to the test?" That's where the buck stops. I hope we know that!
Pastors may also take the brunt of members' complaints. Why aren't we bringing in more new members? Why aren't we increasing the income? We complain against the synod for the same reason. We wouldn't dare go over their heads and blame God! But as Moses says, we are putting God to the test. The question we may have after reading this is: Would God let them die of thirst in they didn't complain and ask for an answer? How long must they wait? Is God testing them? We have to be careful about the lesson here that if we complain loud enough, our prayers may be answered but God will not be happy.
Moses brought witnesses to see water come when his staff hit the rock. He wanted all of them to know who answered their "prayers." He wanted them to know that it was the Lord who was among them.
He is among us also. The Lord has done so many things for us. How can we doubt that he will give us what we need? As Jesus also said, "If we ask our Father for bread, will he give us a stone?" I think God gives us some periods of doubt and problems to test our faith and to see if we are only concerned about ourselves and can't wait for his good timing.
