freeindeed

What did the Isrealites do wrong? After God protected them from plagues, delivered them from slavery in Egypt, gave them the gold of their captors, miraculously parted the Red Sea for them to cross, provided daily food and water, and even clothes and shoes that did not wear out...you would think they might be at least a little grateful. But no, they whined and complained about almost everything, including Moses' leadership. Then, in a final insult to the Almighty God, as soon as Moses was out of sight upon the mountain, they had Aaron fashion a new god, a golden calf, out of the very gold God had provided them. No wonder God was angry! (Unfortunately, it seems that even in modern-day America, blessed as we have been, our behavior is much the same). How can a loving God be angry? I think His anger stemmed from His great love for these people He himself had created, as well as His complete holiness. Nobody can make me as angry as the people I care most deeply about. If I read in the newspaper of some evil deed done by a stranger, I shake my head in wonder or disgust, then go about my business. But if a dear friend or family member of mine is involved, I may fume for days (and sometimes nights too). There is no end to my distress until something is resolved. Is God's sentence to destroy Israel and raise up a new nation through Moses justified? Yes, entirely. Moses was not without fault, but he obeyed God when no one else would. He had a yearning to know God on a personal level. And since he was a descendent of Abraham, he could father a new nation in fulfillment of God's promise that Abraham's seed would produce a great nation.

It's an absolute illusion that we can be independent from God in any sense. Even unbelievers unknowingly depend on God for their very life. " it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not." (Lam 3:22.) Our emplyment and the ability to work is a gift from God, therefore He really DOES provide our daily bread. To pray "give us this day our daily bread" is a needed reminder of this. The Bible tells us that " if any would not work, neither should he eat" ( II Th 3:10) Even though our western society stresses independence, sometimes to our spiritual detriment, it also fosters a sense of industry and responsibility that, I believe, is approved of God. This "work ethic" seems to be deteriorating as man, more and more, turns to government for help instead of the Almighty God.

When I was a child I was taught to respect my parents, but not in the sense of just practicing compassion and common decency. I respected them because they had power far beyond my own. They were the ultimate authority in my life as a chid. They were more strict than many parents today, but I knew they loved me. For me to hallow God's name is similar. In prayer, I recognize His supreme power and authority over me, which is both loving and inerringly in my best interest. He is the father who really DOES know everything and really CAN do everything! He knows me intimately and I can hide nothing from Hin. I am in awe of Him and express this to Him in prayer. To speak as if God was my pal, to think or speak as if He "owes" me something (He's already given me the greatest Gift) implies that He is not Almighty. To use "Jesus" or "God" as an explative besmirches His name.