Some time ago I read about Malcolm Mulgridge, one of my favorite British writers
and thinkers. Malcolm Muggeridge was an atheist but became a Christian after
visiting communist Soviet Union. He was astounded by the vibrant faith and the
faithfulness of Christians in Russia living under the communist regime. Their
faith in Christ was alive and vibrant. The witness of Christians in Soviet
Union led Malcolm Muggeridge to trust Jesus
as his Lord and Savior. The story goes: Standing beside the family plot in an
English cemetery, the Christian statesman spoke as one who would soon join
those of his family who had died. He contrasted his youthful dreads and desires
with those of his old age. He said that those things which he felt were most
desirable in his youth he now saw to be of relatively little importance, while
those things which he dreaded in his youth had proven to be the richest
experiences of his life.
I
believe that Muggeridge is right. Those things which we think are most
important often prove to be otherwise, while those things which appear to be
undesirable, even painful, often prove most precious and profitable. In the
Exodus 17 reading we discover that the Israelites viewed the lack of water at
Rephidim as a disaster and an indication that God had abandoned them to die in
the desert. They questioned a way that was beyond their comprehension. What
first appeared to be an indication of God’s absence proved to be one of the most
dramatic illustrations of God’s presence, provision, and protection.
Leaving
the Desert of Sin where God’s miraculous provision of manna had commenced (cf.
chapter 16), the Israelites went from place to place, as the Lord directed
them. It is significant to note that God was in no hurry to bring the
Israelites into the land of Canaan. While Israel’s later “wilderness
wanderings” were the result of their sin at Kadesh-barnea (cf.
Numbers
13-14), the wanderings here are designed to serve as
Israel’s “boot camp” experiences. The events of chapter 17 occur while Israel
is camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the Israelites or their
cattle.
Note that it was God who led Israel to Rephidim
where there was no water. The Israelites should have learned to trust God to
supply their needs, based upon His previous provision of water at Marah
(15:22-26) and quail and manna in the wilderness of Sin (chapter 16).
Furthermore, the Israelites did far more than just grumble, as they had
previously done. Before this, the Israelites had grumbled against Moses and
Aaron (15:24; 16:2, 7-8), but now they are quarreling with Moses and about to
stone him (17:4). Before, the Israelites asked Moses what they were to drink
(15:24), but now they are demanding that Moses give them water to drink.
It is bad
enough that the Israelites argued with Moses and demanded that Moses provide
them with water, but the text informs us that they were also challenging God
here as well. The issue, however, is not only whether Moses had the right to
continue to lead this people, but whether God was among His people. The challenge of the Israelites was,
“Is the Lord among us or not?”
We share the same DNA, the same mind set, with the the
grumbling Israel pilgrims in the wildrrness.
Often we find it very difficult to believe that God is
present when things are not going well. We find it hard to believe that God
would lead His people or His church into times and circumstances of
difficulty. When we think this way, we are no different from the Israelites.
We doubt God’s presence and power whenever the going begins to get tough. We
fail to understand the necessity and importance of the school of discipline
through which God puts all of His children.
GOD OFTEN REVEALS HIS PRESENCE THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH
HE APPEARS TO BE ABSENT. We can generalize God’s dealings with His
people by pointing out that God uses those times in which we suppose He is
absent to show us how real and present He is.
In
Christ,
Brown
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