Daily Reading // Exodus 17-20
(Find the daily reading on Pastor Jim’s Blog)
https://jholm5.wixsite.com/pastor-jim-blog
S // SCRIPTURE
Select a verse from today’s reading
Exodus 17:1-3 (NKJV) 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?”
O // OBSERVATION
Why did this verse get your attention? Make a simple observation from the text
Moses asked the people two questions: 1) Why do you contend with me? 2) Why do you tempt the Lord?
When they had no water, they went to Moses for water. They felt like he owed them water because ‘he brought them up out of Egypt.’ In their minds Moses brought them out of Egypt and Moses was responsible for them.
By contending with Moses they were writing God right out of the story. Moses wasn’t their deliverer, God was. Moses wasn’t responsible for them, God was. They shouldn’t have been looking to Moses, but looking to God.
A // APPLICATION
How can I apply this to my life today?
Do I look to people when I should be looking to God?
My employer isn’t my provision. God is. God may use my employer among other things for my provision but my trust is in Him.
The government isn’t my protection. God is. My trust is in God, not the U.S. Government.
Pastors aren’t responsible for the spiritual health of people. God is. He definitely uses churches and pastors for this purpose but He Himself is ultimately responsible. Every person needs to go directly to Him.
By contending with or looking to my employer, my government, my pastor I write God out of the story, just like the children of Israel did.
He meets all my needs every single day.
P // PRAYER
Express yourself in prayer
Father, You are a good God. I love You and trust You. Amen.
amen!!