Yesterday we asked the question is God among us or not, prayerfully you arrived at the same conclusion I did. Yes God is always among us sometimes we choose to realize it, while others our situation prevents us from seeing that fact clearly.
Today we reflect on the same text but from a different viewpoint, as we see that the people complained and quarreled against Mosses. Lets look again at the text: Exodus 17:1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ 3But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ 4So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ 5The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He called the place Massah and Meribah,because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’
I don't know if you have ever been in a leadership role or even been accused, blamed or the scapegoat for something that you had no control over. But this is what Moses was dealing with. Moses was not in control God was but the people came after Moses. Have you ever felt like you were about to be stoned or attacked because of situations out of your control? Have you ever been uncomfortable about discussing your religion or telling someone that you were a Christian? As Christians we face hard times and task, because we are accountable to God and one another. We have to stand up for what we believe in. We must be leaders directing, pointing and even calling out to God on our behalf and on behalf of the people when situations arise that prevent us from seeing God moving clearly.
Reflect on how God has called you to use your gifts and talents in ministry as a Christian. Remember we all are called to be Christian ministers, and proclaimers of the Good Gospel News.
Also ask yourself the question:In what situations have you been among the people complaining and fighting against the leadership? What will keep you from repeating these trends and being more sensitive to the various roles we all play?
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