God’s Reactions

There are times when I’m quiet before the Lord in the morning that I feel certain He’s telling me something. Other times, not so much.

I read Numbers 11 last weekend. The Israelite’s were in the desert complaining over manna from heaven. They missed meat, fish, garlic, leeks, and melons. Moses quoted them telling the Lord, “For it was well with us in Egypt,” in Numbers 11:18.

They came under slavery in Egypt for the Pharaoh, who did not remember Joseph and how God spared their country from starvation during a famine. As slaves, in Exodus 1:11, it tells us that they built supply cities, Pithom and Raamses under taskmasters who afflicted them. They remained slaves for hundreds of years, possibly close to four hundred years according to Ex. 12:40.

In Exodus 3, God tells Moses that He’s heard the crying of the Hebrew people and seen their afflictions. How soon they seemed to forget the whippings, the heavy burdens, the murder of their babies when Pharaoh worried they’d overtake the Egyptians by sheer numbers.

God heard the moans and groans of His people, so He sent them a deliverer. Moses showed the power of God over and over again until Pharaoh cast them out.

In Numbers 11, after the Lord decided to send them meat for a month, in verse 23 (NASB) it says: And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

In Numbers 11:31, (NKJV), it says: Now a wind went out from the Lord, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, …about two cubits above the surface of the ground.”

That’s about three feet deep of quail surrounding the camp.

I felt as though God said for me to remember this: God’s provision and possibly His anger over complaining over perfectly good supplies already at hand.

I am encouraged to know that God’s power is unlimited, that He is our provider and that He is in control.

If you are struggling, I have found comfort when I needed it in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

May God bless you!

Clearing My Calendar

 

I cleared my calendar for this week when my grandchildren showed up for a little more than a week last Sunday.

They are getting old enough to sleep away for a week in the summer from their folks at home. My father-in-law used to have our kids over for a week in the summer, so the tradition continues, although I think he took them one at a time. He used to hire them to help around his place and I intended to do the same on a lesser degree, but the time is flying by. Plus, we’re making plans to see some attractions and extended-family, so it may not work out.

Years ago, a pastor younger than my husband and I told me if I ever wanted to get my house spruced up, invite people over. It proved true for me this week. I emptied a closet out in two rooms and re-organized them, threw stuff away and placed some items in a give-away spot.

I kept waiting for the weather to warm up so I could apply house numbers to our mailbox that I bought in Feb.

I cleaned the outside of the mail receptacle, rinsed it and dried it. I carefully affixed the large numbers at around 9:00 at night. I’m expecting a few more family members tonight. I even washed fingerprints off the screen doors’ glass around 10:00 p.m. because it’s been driving me crazy and the children are sleeping.

We tried to read about Moses tonight for their Bible story, but unfortunately, last night they were so stinking cute and I was tired and I got laughing and they got laughing and we cut it short. Then the second born told me we didn’t get to read about Moses, so I promised we’d do it tonight. They like to act the story out and I didn’t let them last night because I was not up to it. So, they tried to act it out tonight. The last born decided he wanted to be God in the story, but halfway through God’s speech to Moses where God says His name is “I AM,” the little one decided he wanted to be the king instead. The oldest told me that’s because Jesus is the “King of kings.”

I was beginning to agree to that and suddenly everything ran amuck. The second born starts laughing because he likes to laugh and he’s remembering last night, but it’s just when the youngest says in the lowest voice he can muster, “I AM.”

It seemed so awe inspiring to me, that I didn’t want laughing at that juncture and then my husband comes into the room and says, “How long of a Bible story are you going to have tonight? Are you planning on going on until 11:00?”

By then, my granddaughter who got tired of the small amount of lines from Pharaoh’s daughter had decided she’d be God instead of her abdicating brother. Her oldest brother, Moses was trying to stay the course but every once in a while one of the younger ones would give him an unexpected hug from behind that was almost a tackle and he’d start laughing. I gave up.

I hope you’re enjoying this month. I write to someone in Bolivia and it occurs to me that when we’re finally getting sunny days in between this rainy spring that they’re heading into winter.

By the way, have you cleared your calendar lately?

May God bless you!

God loves His children!