God wants to transform us—to make us more fully human. He transforms our lives through his Word. This morning we look at how God uses his Word to draw people who are far from him near to him, and to draw people who are near to God nearer to him.
Remember and Persevere
When we’re stuck in the wilderness, and there’s no end in sight, what do we do? The Israelites are at the beginning of a 40-year “exile.” How can they cope with that?
God gives the answer: perseverance comes through remembering. Here’s how one simple practice can sustain us almost indefinitely.
God on Trial
In this third of three consecutive stories, God leads the Israelites further into the wilderness, they find themselves without water, they complain to God, and he provides water.
It sounds familiar, but now the Israelites are really fed up. So, in effect, they put God on trial, accusing, convicting, and sentencing him.
How does God respond when his people put him in the defendant’s seat?
Give Us This Day Tomorrow's Bread
Why would God lead his people to the desert where they have no food? That’s what the Israelites are asking in Exodus 16. When we find ourselves in the Wilderness, we often ask the same question.
“Why have you brought me here, God?”
“Are you still even there?”
This morning, as we look for God in the Wilderness, we see that God is not only present, but his mercy is over the top.
Bitter Mercy
As the parched Israelites get to a desert spring so bitter they can’t drink it, they assume God is cruel, not merciful. Yet this water is the greatest mercy imaginable.
Today, with the benefit of hindsight, we realize God’s mercy is sometimes so lavish that it’s beyond our understanding and even offensive. Will you allow God’s sweet mercy to overcome the bitter taste in your mouth?