April 27, 2020

In Exodus 16 we read the account of how the people began to respond to the situation of being led out of Egypt. The Hebrew slaves were released from Egypt after the Lord performed incredible signs and wonders through Moses. Signs and wonders that revealed that the demons of the Egyptian idols had no power over the true God of Israel. They were told to leave and Moses led them towards the Promised Land. After two months of being free from the brutal life of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites began to grumble and complain against Moses. In Exodus 16:1-3 we read:

The whole 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. ² In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

The Israelites were consumed by their own selfish, fleshly desires and wanted satisfaction now. They weren’t interested in the big picture. They would rather return to Egypt live in bondage and have their old lives, than persevere towards their freedom. We are seeing this in the news these days as people are protesting the social-distancing restrictions. The protesters are whining and complaining because they are more concerned about their own selfish, fleshly, carnal, sinful needs than the needs of other. They are weak in their ability to persevere toward that which will bring a better situation for everyone. Our task as followers of Jesus is to obey the government (Titus 3:1) and to pray for cooperation and peace everywhere.  

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to be patient today as I submit myself to the leaders around me. I submit myself to you Lord so that I am not consumed or driven by my fleshly desires, but by my desires to honour you and those around me by doing all I can do to help overcome this current situation. Continue to give courage to those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue to give courage to all those affected physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually by this virus. Give courage to all the leaders who are seeking to do all the right things, and all the best things for us. Grant me the courage today to persevere by the power of the Holy Spirit to endure all things, and continue to be a witness for Jesus. Use me to your glory today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.