Living in the Spirit

September 26, 2023

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. –Exodus16:2-3, 9-15

How do we think we would respond if we were freed from a lifetime of slavery with no understanding of how to live except what we were told to do? The poor make a similar journey trying to climb out of poverty. Some make it; others do not. The programs designed to help people become self-sufficient and self-supporting have been redesigned to benefit the wealthy more than the poor. I just read that only 22%* of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments make it into the hands of the one in need. Here in Oklahoma, we spent $70 million to out-of-state companies to provide marriage classes and counseling that did not reduce either the divorce rate or the poverty rate.

God was with the Israelites, and I believe God is with the poor. Will it take us  40 years to recover from our greed that helps the rich become richer and the poor poorer?

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for letting greed lead us down the wrong paths. Guide us toward building the Kingdom of God you challenged us to create where you will live among us. Amen.

*See Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

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.