FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR DAN

Dear Friends in Christ,
At a recent Bible Study I was teaching about Israel being rescued by God and delivered from slavery in Egypt. After that, God brought them safely through the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh’s army in the process. But a few days after these great miracles the people began to complain that they were better off in Egypt because at least they had food and water. And so God gives them both food and water.

As soon as life became uncomfortable they were ready to abandon God and appoint someone to lead them back to Egypt. It seems amazing that they would so quickly turn on God and go back to a place of death. We should not be surprised they did this because people do it all the time. God brings us to a place that is uncomfortable and scary and we then want to go back to what we know and are familiar with. People do this even when they go back to situations where they are humiliated and abused. At least they know what to expect as a slave in Egypt.

Throughout the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy we see again and again how often the people complain bitterly against both God and Moses. The refrain is that “we were better off in Egypt….” and should go back there. They even talk about stoning Moses and his supporters. This is not a flattering picture of God’s people. It exposes their fear, unbelief, and bitterness toward God and Moses for all the world to see. It shows how incredibly difficult it can be to be faithful to God in times of turmoil.

Times of turmoil are upon us in the world we live in. It has never been easy to follow God as His chosen children: It is not safe, and He brings us into situations that cause us great discomfort and unwelcome challenges. God’s people never quite fit into the world system because this place is not our home. Our true home is not a city made with hands but one made without hands, an eternal city built by God Himself. That is our true home.

As the world and our country go through tumultuous changes, we need to know that we walk this road with God. We are not alone. As people made white by the Blood of the Lamb, we need to truly trust that God is continuing with our generation the journey He brought His people on from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. To follow God on this journey, we need to know that Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world and that this world is not our destiny. We are called to a much higher destiny: To be with Him who died and rose again. In the violent spasms of history Jesus stays the same. We do not need to be overcome with fear, as others are, for we know to whom we belong and where we are going. We know we have a Good Shepherd who will not give us over to the wolves. No, Jesus lays down His life for His flock as He fights for us and protects us. So we are not shaken; instead we, in faith, walk side by side with the Savior through the dark valley in order to arrive at the Green Pastures and Still Waters He is leading us to.

.           In Christ, Pastor Dan

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