January 27, 2016:  SOAP #2246:   

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 17:1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, travelling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.  2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?”  3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Observation:  Lacking water for 6 million people would be a great problem.  No question!  But instead of considering what God had done for them to free them from Egyptian bondage, and in bringing them through the Red Sea, they now complained about the lack of water.  They should have been saying, “Look what God has done; He will surely take care of this problem too!”   Instead, they accused Moses of bringing them into the wilderness to die of thirst.  But as we read on, we see that this problem also was not too big for God.

Application:   When troubles come my way, I need to take a glance back and see how God has brought me through the troubles of the past.  Like the song says, “He did not bring me this far to leave me; He did not teach me to swim to let me drown.”
Prayer:   Lord, help me apply past lessons to my present struggles!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!