05/`9/2008 Stand before me

[RandomK]

S. 1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on
their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment
of the LORD, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the
people to drink. 2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and
said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”
So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt
the LORD?”
3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained
against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of
Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do with this
people? They are almost ready to stone me!”
5 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with
you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with
which you struck the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you
there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water
will come out of it, that the people may drink.”
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 So he called
the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of
the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, “Is
the LORD among us or not?”

O. How often do we complain against the LORD? What is even more
disturbing, is how quickly we forget His blessings. The children of
Israel had just been blessed with Manna in the previous chapter, and
look how quickly they complain. Why do we think that when God calls us
to do something big, that He will not deliver us or prepare us to do
what he has called us to do. Did they really think that God would call
them to the desert to kill them with thirst right after He delivered
them MIRACULOUSLY from Egypt?

A. How often am I like the Children of Israel? How often do I forget
God's blessing in my life, and turn around and complain to Him that He
doesn't love me like I THINK he should? Maybe this is why we are to
count God's blessings everyday, to remember that He delivers us from
death EVERYDAY. He sustains our life, and gives us what we need to
survive so that we can be His people. I need to understand that if God
wants me to do something significant for His kingdom, I need to know
that He will stand before me, just as He stood before Moses.

P. Lord, please remind me of your mercy. I am sorry when I complain
against you, and doubt your future blessings in my life. Please remind
me of how you have delivered me in the past, so that when I come up
against doubt I will be reminded of your glory and how you will
prepare me and guide me. Let me be aware of my prayers, so that when
you answer them, I will remember what I have asked you to do, and then
I will obey in obedience.