Living in the Spirit
September 26, 2017
Scripture Reading Exodus 17:1-7
So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ The 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. I 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. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ –Exodus 17:4-7
Systems theory talks about the need for systems to move toward a steady state, a place, figuratively speaking, where people know what to expect. Poverty is an entrenched steady state because those caught in it are well acquainted with its challenges even if the results are not good for them or their futures. Moving from a bad steady state to a good steady state whether it be poverty or leaving slavery in Egypt can be daunting. The Israelites knew where to find water in Egypt. They knew the right words to say to their masters to avoid punishment. They knew the boundaries of their steady state.
Chaos and confusion results when moving from one steady state to another. New leaders must arise. A whole new culture must develop. The Israelites wandered in that wilderness for 40 years before they got their act together and crossed into what we call the promise land. One or two generations of people passed away as they struggled to find a new way of living.
God and God’s servant’s Moses was their only steady state, and God never left them even when they quarreled and tested God. This story was retained through history to assure us of the same support and nurture.
Progress toward the Kingdom of God demands a constant movement from our current steady state to a better one defined by God. Adapting to God’s ways shortens our time in the wilderness. Helping others know the love of God and its power to make all whole unites us and makes our work more productive.
Prayer: Lord, we live in a world caught in power struggles and divisiveness. Show us how to sidestep these diversions and make lasting progress toward a steady state of your well-being and peace, Shalom. Amen..