Living in the Spirit

September 14, 2020

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 Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’

In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. –Exodus 16:2-3, 9-15

Moses and Aaron led people who lived in a time of authoritarian leaders. The Israelites willingly followed them out of slavery in Egypt but were ready to go back to Egypt when the food ran out. They observed the mighty acts of God in their escape but had little trust that God would see them through the trek in the wilderness. God provided them the food they needed but used it as a learning experience that they must also take responsibility for themselves and others.

We live in a country where wealth is held primarily by 1% of our population and where the federal minimum wage has not been raised since May 2007. It is now $7.25 per hour.  That equals an annual salary for a person working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks a year of $15,080. The poverty level for one person is $13,300. All other sized families have poverty levels above minimum wage. These people are caught in the wilderness of poverty. What are you willing to do to improve your lives and the lives of others?

Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can. –John Wesley

Prayer: Lord, enable our advocacy to work toward a world where everyone earns enough to obtain the necessities of life. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.