I sent the following reflection along with my weekly Church update this morning. I figure that it is worth sharing in this forum, because it should apply to any church.
“Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
Numbers 11:4b-6
If you are in my Bible study on Wednesday nights, you know that this is one of my favorite Old Testament moments. The Hebrews lived below Mt. Sinai for about a year after leaving Egypt, with God’s tabernacle in the center of the twelve tribes. They live in covenant while dwelling with God’s presence in that tabernacle. Now the time has come for them to leave Mt. Sinai and begin their journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The end of their ordeal is not far off.
It seems that as soon as they get on the road to reach the land flowing with milk and honey, some rabble begins planting seeds of discontent in their midst. They had been living in the presence and provision and safety of Yahweh, and now they are complaining about the food. My favorite in the grocery list of things they were missing is cucumbers!
My friends, we have come six LLLLLLOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG weeks through this exodus, and we have passed the upward curve. We still have a journey to make before we enter that promised land of embracing one another in person as a community in the presence of our God. I know you miss the normalcy of what was before, but the promise is that something better awaits.
So hang in there while we wait to reach the promised land which I am convinced will be filled with cucumbers and toilet paper. And remember that God’s cloud of presence journeys with us!
Hang in there my friends!
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