Several years ago I wrote a post (here) based on Exodus 2:25: “God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” They’d been in Egypt about 400 years with conditions getting progressively worse. God didn’t suddenly remember that they were there. He’d known all along, but for whatever reason He allowed them to stay and suffer there until what He deemed to be the perfect time. Moses was in wilderness training in Midian for forty years while the Israelites suffered. Even through the ten plagues the people had to keep waiting. Curiously, for most of plagues the Bible does not specifically say that the Israelites living in the land of Goshen were protected from the effects of the plague. They probably wondered where God was and what He was doing. They certainly feared Pharaoh’s retribution, particularly when they were hemmed in by the Red Sea while Pharaoh’s army pursued them.
Even when they were safely across the sea and in the wilderness they couldn’t figure out why they were there or where they were going. They faced one doubt after another as they wandered, and they rebelled against God repeatedly because they didn’t trust His plan for them.
Our current trial with COVID-19 raises a lot of questions too. Why doesn’t God intervene with a miraculous cure? Why didn’t He stop it a long time ago? Is the Church going to suffer because of governmental restrictions? Are our religious freedoms in jeopardy? What good is going to come out of this? Although those are all valid questions, some of which we may never know the answer to, I think there are more important questions we need to ask ourselves: Are we going to feed our faith or our fear? Are we trusting that God knows every detail of what’s going on today and that He is still in control? Are we helping others to trust God through their doubts and fears?
I’ve been pleased with the way some churches, pastors, and leaders have stepped outside their comfort zones to use social media as a tool to share vital truths from Scripture. But I’ve also been frustrated by others who have a running negative commentary on society. At times like this, I think we need to be constantly looking for and sharing reasons for hope and peace and joy. That’s not to say we close our eyes to everything else, but there are already plenty of sources of negative news.
Going back to the Exodus story, think how different the ending would have been if it hadn’t been just Joshua and Caleb who encouraged the people to enter the Promised Land. What if the all of the spies had reported, “The land… is exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, He will bring us into the land and give it to us… Do not fear the people of the land… Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:7-9). But the people chose fear over faith and paid the price of an entire generation dying in the wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land.
Jesus said,
Let’s get busy sowing seeds of faith, not fear!
“For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness… He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” (Psalm 18:28-31).
© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
Even when they were safely across the sea and in the wilderness they couldn’t figure out why they were there or where they were going. They faced one doubt after another as they wandered, and they rebelled against God repeatedly because they didn’t trust His plan for them.
Our current trial with COVID-19 raises a lot of questions too. Why doesn’t God intervene with a miraculous cure? Why didn’t He stop it a long time ago? Is the Church going to suffer because of governmental restrictions? Are our religious freedoms in jeopardy? What good is going to come out of this? Although those are all valid questions, some of which we may never know the answer to, I think there are more important questions we need to ask ourselves: Are we going to feed our faith or our fear? Are we trusting that God knows every detail of what’s going on today and that He is still in control? Are we helping others to trust God through their doubts and fears?
I’ve been pleased with the way some churches, pastors, and leaders have stepped outside their comfort zones to use social media as a tool to share vital truths from Scripture. But I’ve also been frustrated by others who have a running negative commentary on society. At times like this, I think we need to be constantly looking for and sharing reasons for hope and peace and joy. That’s not to say we close our eyes to everything else, but there are already plenty of sources of negative news.
Going back to the Exodus story, think how different the ending would have been if it hadn’t been just Joshua and Caleb who encouraged the people to enter the Promised Land. What if the all of the spies had reported, “The land… is exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, He will bring us into the land and give it to us… Do not fear the people of the land… Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:7-9). But the people chose fear over faith and paid the price of an entire generation dying in the wilderness before they could enter the Promised Land.
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV).Are we living as light in the world by sharing faith and hope, or are we contributing to its darkness by promoting fear and pessimism? Do unbelievers look at us and say “I want that kind of hope,” or do they say “They look just like everyone else now”? Do others see that we truly believe that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2)?
Let’s get busy sowing seeds of faith, not fear!
“For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness… He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” (Psalm 18:28-31).
© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
