March
23 Romans 5.1-11, * Exodus 17.1-7, Courts – Arguments Jacqueline Hines
Moses
was a superhero. He remains a superhero for all Christians, as well as in the
hearts and minds of our Muslim and Jewish friends. Moses was the key character
in God’s plan to rescue people from a sad situation. Amazing things happened
when Moses followed God’s guidance. Waters were divided to make a path for them
to get away from Pharaoh’s army.
Every
now and then, our circumstances seem to warrant a superhero’s rescue. It is
safe to say that all of us have at one time or another been catapulted into
very distressing seasons. It is also safe to say that God has been like a
superhero and has rescued US in one
way or another.
When
Moses led God’s people out of THEIR sad situation, they did not go straight to
the good life. Their first stop was not easy street. Their first stop was a
wilderness, the Wilderness of Sin – short for Sinai. If we had OUR way, all
our days would be trouble-free. When trouble does come, we want to be rescued
as soon as possible.
During
this Lenten season, we take an inventory of our troubles, especially the
trouble caused by our own sin. We hope for God to be a superhero, but just like
those who followed Moses discovered, we discover that being rescued from trouble
may not mean going straight to Easy Street. After our deliverance, we may find
ourselves in a wilderness, on our way to the Promised Land. We may have to do
the hard work of repenting and some wrestling with challenges before we can relax
and enjoy the land that flows with milk and honey, peace and prosperity.
The
main complaint about the wilderness was that there wasn’t enough water. Physiologists tell us that a person can
live 40 days without food but only 3 days without water. It had been three days
for the Israelites. Persons deprived of water could experience 3 stages of
thirst - eudipsia, "ordinary thirst," hyperdipsia, "temporary
intense thirst," and polydipsia, "sustained excessive thirst"
that drives one to drink anything, salty water, etc. etc.
In
our land of plenty, we enjoy indoor taps with clean water, for drinking,
recreation and every necessity. God has sent us engineers who enforce
regulations that provide the water we need to survive. There is work to be done
and a price to be paid. Someone had to do the work of digging a well and the
water had to be piped in. It has all been arranged and taken care of for us. It
is unimaginable that we could ever spend three days without water.
Not
everyone is blessed with water in this world, yet. According to UNICEF, 768
million people still do not have access to clean water. One third of these people live in only ten countries, including
China, Pakistan, Kenya, and India. Fourteen hundred children die every day
because of a lack of water. It was a blessing to hear one of our young people
at Bethel say that he had taken action to help develop a water well in another
country that needs it.
Without
water, the people of God began to argue out
of great frustration.They argued
about whether their superhero had actually made the best decision to leave
Egypt or had used the most strategic route. They argued about the timing of the
departure and the adequacy of the preparations.
What
do you argue about? A study found that most American couples argue about
money. They debate about what a “need” is as distinguished from a “want” to
justify their spending. Their arguments prove again and again, that the weaker
the arguments, the stronger the words. Very few, however, said they took the
time to actually sit down and discuss their ideas in a loving, rational and
adult manner. Results of another study showed that couples who knew how to
fight fair, had the longest and healthiest relationships.
We
all know that story of the sun and the wind arguing about which one of them was
stronger. At last, the sun said, "Look at that traveler down there. Let's
see which of us can get him to take off his coat. I'll let you begin."
While the sun hid his face behind a cloud, the wind began to blow; but the
harder he blew, the more firmly the poor fellow held his garment tight around him.
Finally, the wind gave up. Then the sun came out and shone so warmly that the
man soon removed his coat.
When
the people of God realized that water was nowhere in sight, they probably felt
there was nothing left to say. That conversation would not help. They were so
thirsty that they probably did not want to talk to God at all. It seems their
resentment had grown greater than their faith, like weeds grow greater than a
vegetable garden, and cause the fruit to diminish. Perhaps in their heart of
hearts their faith was such that they were demanding a relationship where God
would do all the work and they could sit in the shade and enjoy the benefits.
Not
long ago, they had been rescued with superhero strength, now they were asking “Is
the Lord with us or not?” It is understandable that they had doubts and
questions, but still one had to wonder, “Where was THEIR faith?”
It
is a natural tendency to complain and gripe in
the wilderness, but when our complaints are louder than our thanks, we risk
real problems. Educators suggest our conversations should have nine positive
affirmations for every one negative comment. Doing so sweetens our waters;
coming short of that goal, pollutes the system.
Moby
Dick is inspired by a true story of thirst that resulted after a shipwreck. The
first mate wrote in his journal, "The privation of water is justly ranked
among the most dreadful of the miseries of our life. . . The violence of raving
thirst has no parallel in the catalogue of human calamities." (Allen Perkins. sermonCentral.com)
Witnesses
(Nathaniel Philbrick) describe weeks without thirst as more intolerable than
hunger. Not knowing how long it would be before they were rescued, they
rationed half a pint of water per day, barely enough to keep the mouth moist. The throat raged with fever, saliva
thickened and tasted foul, the tongue would cling irritatingly to the teeth and
the roof of the mouth. Even though speech was difficult, sufferers complained
ceaselessly about their thirst until their voices become so cracked and hoarse
they could not speak. Finally, the tongue swelled and hardened, leading to a
brutal end. After being shipwrecked they were surrounded by salty sea water.
Those who could not resist drinking it quickly became dehydrated and subject to
hallucinations, which were “contagious. “
Moses’
followers were without water for only three long days, not three months like
those at sea. They were at risk for losing their health and their wellbeing. They
were uncomfortable, afraid and angry. The scriptures say they began to quarrel,
to argue with Moses. Arguing with each other can be the exact same thing as
arguing with God. Theirs was not a healthy debate. Nor was it a helpful
dialogue. No, this was a session of nagging and scolding. Their complaints,
criticisms and challenges outweighed their courage, kindness, contentment, and
comfort. Their egos got the best of them. You know EGO stands for Easing God
Out.
They
got up in God’s face. They collected evidence for their case against God being
with them to help them in their time of greatest need. They shouted at God and
to Moses, “Is the Lord with us or not?”
That
is a question we have all asked at one time. When relationships flounder, we
ask “Is the Lord with us or not?” When arthritis flairs up with searing pain,
we ask “Is the Lord with us or not?” When disease strikes taking more than its
share of time and money, we ask “Is the Lord with us or not?” When someone
fails us or disappointment distracts us, we ask “Is the Lord with us or not?”
It
wasn’t long before God did provide water in superhero style as only God can do. Verse 6 tells us Moses hit a certain
rock as God directed him and fresh water was released.
In
this Lenten season, we are reminded that the Lord IS with us, that we can expect to be rescued again and again, one
way or another. For this we give God more thanks and praise than
complaints, for this we give each other more thanks and praise, than
complaints. Let it be so. Amen.
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