The Exodus

Listen to today’s reading:

Exodus 16:2-3

In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Psalm 16:5

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.

Philippians 3:8

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

Today’s Reading:

No matter what you say (and to many’s dislike), the New York Yankees are a staple team in major league baseball and arguably the most iconic team in all the sport. The club pulls a heavy following. Their popularity has to do with rich history, success, and probably also with the legendary figures that have put on the NY uniform. They currently have 21 numbers retired for 23 individuals, all well deserving of the honor. Actually, the Yanks have the most retired numbers in all 30 MLB teams, covering every single digit number, with Derek Jeter (#2) being the most recent and also including the great Babe Ruth (#3). From their creation as a franchise, they have won a record 27 championships. As rich of a history and as successful the New York Yankees have been, team following still ebbs and flows, and does no matter who you are. In the statistical age that we live in today, we can clearly see how many fans have fallen away and come back year to year. Attendance and revenue fell from 2010 to 2016 to a new low. The Yankees just weren’t winning, and when they did reach postseason play during this time, they didn’t get far. Their record after this lull improved and so did their following… unsurprisingly. In sports, you’ll always have your bandwagon fans. This is true, sadly, in people’s relationship with God as well. When we look into our own lives and in Christian culture, many are swayed too easily by others as well as when they are in “good” or “bad” times. When God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of 430 years of slavery, miraculously walking them through the Red Sea on dry ground, they worshipped and praised the Lord in song. They finished this song together singing, “the Lord reigns for ever and ever.” It is astonishing how quickly we can fall away from praising God after such high points with him. In the next few verses, things quickly start to get tough. The Israelites start grumbling because of the lack of water and food. In Exodus 16:3 they said to Moses and Aaron, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Despite the recent success against the Egyptians, the Israelites were already ready to abandon their team! As created beings, our vision is so short sided. We often don’t realize that God is in the process of molding his people through hardship. Let our mindset be like Paul’s from in Philippians 3:8 when he writes, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Not only was Paul content on earth in difficult situations, but he also wanted more of Jesus, wherever his Lord took him. Our comfortability and our earthly wants and needs, even down to the food and water we eat and drink, are “a loss” compared to knowing, walking with, and sharing our joy in God. We are not promised an easy life. Life may actually get harder following Jesus. That is a difficult thing to swallow. Know that our soul secured in the hands of God, now possible through Jesus Christ, is so much better than any comfort or craving the world has to offer! Jesus redeems our short-sided discontentment for a beautiful, never-ending joy.

Today’s Prayer Guide:

Praise – Praise God for knowing exactly what we need.

Confession – Confess to God that you often sway with the influence of the world more than staying content in him.

Ask – Ask for more of Jesus, wherever he takes you.