Day 2
DATE: 1/2/13
Good morning! My name is Dana Sorrels and I was asked to give a devotional thought from Exodus 16 and 17.
Key Verses: Ex. 16:2-3 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
17:3-4 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, what shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready to stone me.
Reflections: As I read through these chapters it was easy (a little too easy) for me to judge the Israelites for the way they acted. They blamed Moses for dragging them out to the wilderness, and at some points Moses was afraid they were going to stone him! Even after God supplied them with food they didn’t obey Him and got stuck with nasty, moldy food; I guess maybe they didn’t trust that God would give them food the next day. Then they complained about being thirsty and Moses was afraid for his life! I was thinking, “How can these silly people complain and threaten Moses when they have seen these miracles and God has provided for them?!”
Then (unfortunately) I had to stop and examine myself. Recently Jada and I were pretty sick for much longer than I would’ve liked, and I remember thinking, “How much more of this am I supposed to take? Why can’t we just be better already?” I’m ashamed now, because I didn’t stop to thank God that I had insurance or money to pay the doctor, or that it was just the flu my daughter had instead of a brain tumor. I was just like those Israelites, if not worse. I didn’t even have to be starving or so thirsty that I thought I would die. I had medicine and a nice warm couch and a mom that came and took care of me!!
Application: I want to challenge everyone (myself especially) to trust that God will provide and take care of us, and to be thankful for what we DO have and what He HAS done for us. I feel like sometimes I’m my own worst enemy, and if I’d get out of His way He could do His job. My Dad sings a song called, “Keep Me in Your Will so I Won’t Get in Your Way.” I think we should strive to put our total trust in Him.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and have a marvelous day!
In Christ,
Dana Sorrels :0)
NAME: Dana Sorrels
WHEN YOU GOT SAVED: I was 5 years old at a backyard Bible club.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: Isaiah 41:10
FAMILY: Jada 14 and Jake 11
DREAM VACATION: Right now I would have to say anywhere above 40 degrees.
HOBBIES: Laughing, reading, spendingtime with my kids, and extended family.