Living in the Spirit
September 18, 2017
Scripture Reading: Exodus 16:2-15
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’
Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’ –Exodus 16:2-8
I firmly believe that the government of the United States of America is a very accurate reflection of its population. Only 54.2% of eligible voters voted in the 2016 elections. Anyone who was eligible to vote and did not vote abdicated responsibility for his or her future and the futures of their families and friends. Think about it, just under half the national population who could vote, did not.
I also firmly believe that the USA, perhaps the world, is suffering from an epidemic of greed that will be our downfall as it was for other nations throughout history if we do not get it under control. Government-wise we see that being played out through special interest who control much of our media. We are being groomed to distrust information as we fall in lockstep with half-truths and other misinformation some of which plays on our deepest fears and prejudices.
Most of our ancestors came to this country many for the freedom to worship and to participate in a government of the people, by the people, for the people, not special interest and not selfish gain. It means that truth matters and that we work a little harder at finding the truth. It means we must deal with the fears and prejudices that drive us to put our faith in lesser gods that prevent us from fulfilling our call as followers of Christ. It means that we must individually and collectively share with the diversity of our nation and develop empathy for those in different situations than ours as we work for the Common Good.
Prayer: Lord, help us learn from the stories of our ancestors in faith how you were always willing to guide them through troubled waters as well as arid deserts. Amen.