Remembering God's Holy Promise

I think the first verse of the reading from Exodus really sets the scene for us this morning.

"The entire Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron."

"According to the bible," one writer says, "the Jews are great complainers. Just look at the all of the so-called psalms of lament. 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' cries the psalmist."

"My last church was next to a synagogue," this writer says. "the Rabbi and I would have coffee on Mondays. One Monday I said to him, “Rabbi, I saw the heating repair truck was at your place. Have you guys got heating problems?" "You bet we got heating problems!" he replied. "So I said to God, 'is it too much to ask you for a little help? Here we sit in Greenville, South Carolina. It's one of the highest, holiest weeks of the Jewish year, and the heating goes out! Is it too much to ask of you to give us a break?" He was mad. He was angry. And he told God about it."

I have to think that this rabbi's reaction to heating problems is not much different from a lot of people who find themselves stuck in uncomfortable or challenging circumstances. Things are tough so they want to hold someone accountable. Maybe God is as a good person as anyone else. In the case of our reading, the Hebrews focus on the most convenient target, so they turn their anger of their leaders, Moses and Aaron. Most motion pictures portray the Exodus as a vast and crowded parade of people marching out of town in a chaotic mix of human beings, animals and supplies. Despite the solemnity, you would like to think there was a modicum of joy somewhere in the ranks. They had finally escaped from under Pharaoh’s thumb. They were moving forward with hopes of a better life. But now, two and a half months into the journey, the going has suddenly gotten tough, so they feel the need to blow off steam, to unload some of their grievances.

It is a very human characteristic to complain. I have known people who I think would complain if you handed them a million dollars in cash, simply because all the bills were wrinkled!

That's the kind of illustration that reminds us how we sometimes get caught up in what we think we need, even though something very good may be happening. There are those times when God is already working around us and through us, but we are so preoccupied with ourselves that we just don't see it.

Think of those weary pilgrims making their way across the desert. Yes, they had plenty to eat and drink back in Egypt, but they were also being victimized and oppressed. Had they forgotten that? How could they ever doubt that a god who could turn the river red, who could rain down terrible storms, who could move a gigantic body of water out of the way for them, was ever going to let them starve? The remarkable thing is that, despite what the people were saying, our ever-gracious God tells Moses to carry a message to the people, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day to gather what I give them. In this way i will test them to see if they can be obedient to me." Moses and Aaron do just that. "Friends," they say, "the God who brought us out of bondage is going to take care of us. In the morning, you will see the glory of God because he has heard your grumbling." "And by the way," Aaron adds, "who are we that you could be complaining to us? You are not complaining against us, but against the Lord."

As I've said, the Hebrew's grumbling and complaining are such thoroughly human reactions to challenge. But what saves this passage is the revelation that this is also a story of god's grace toward those whom he loves. And that takes us to the reading from the one hundred and fifth Psalm.

"(the Lord) brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them. (the Lord) spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give them light at night. They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. he opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert."

"for he remembered his holy promises given to his servant Abraham." (psa.106:42)

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (gen.12:2-3)

Despite that fact that we, too, might think we have our grievances with God. Despite the occasional setback or challenge, despite the apparent evidence that life is just going to pot, god's promises are from generation to generation, to time everlasting and beyond, world without end, amen!

Oh, from time to time we may get an attitude going about how God has forgotten us or cursed us or whatever, but God has never betrayed us or deserted us. In fact, we are the ones who are prone to wandering off or getting distracted. In times of strife and trouble, our cries are heard and, in time, our prayers are answered. I firmly believe that, just like the Hebrews of old, one way or another, day by day we will receive what we need to travel a little further down the road in our journey of life. We just have to remember that when we pray, "give us this day our daily bread," we are going directly to the source, to a God who will make sure that we will most assuredly receive what we need. I believe that because there is not a doubt in my mind or heart that God keeps promises, to you, to me, and to all those whom he loves. Despite our occasional griping and groaning, God still keeps promises!

I hope that you can live with that same confidence.

Amen.