June 19th, 2024

19th June 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 15:22-27 focus v25-26)


Message (Alan Burke)


Many years ago I use to work in a clothes shop in the Maiden city on Ferryquay Street. It was a wee independent shop which has gone the way of the Dodo and been replaced by a Concern Book shop. My boss was one of those guys who was great at customer service, they would come in with their grumbling and usually he would find some way to placate them and as soon as the customer was out the door he’d be cursing their name. Even in customer service where the customer is always right we might be good to someone’s face but when their back is turned it is another thing entirely. As we read this passage before us the actions of Moses are commendable, he doesn’t have grumbling customers but the people of God looking for a drink and instead of doing what they do and grumbling, biting back he cries out to the Lord. It’s hard to do what we know is right when we are getting it in the neck as Moses was. 


The people were taking aim at him even though it was the Lord who had brought them to this place. Notice what Moses does, he didn’t complain, he didn’t grumble back at the unthankful people, he didn’t “say you think you know it all, if you can do a better job you lead everyone”, he could have seen the red mist but he didn’t do what we often do just like the people and grumble right back he instead cried out to the Lord. The People responded with grumbling, Moses responded by crying out to the Lord, he knew that what he needed to do in all was to have faith in the Lord, to look to him to seek his guidance. Moses cried out is reminiscent of how the people cried out because of their slavery in Egypt (Ex 2:23). There the Lord hear the cry of his people and here the Lord heard the cry of Moses in the midst of this. The Lord hears the cries of his people in the midst of what they face, if they are coming to him in faith, looking for his help, he hears and he answers. 


That is just what the Lord does here. For the Lord showed Moses a piece of wood and he threw it the water and it became sweet. Do you remember the first plague the Lord used the staff of Moses to turn the water of the Nile to blood, Moses in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials struck the nile with the staff (Ex 7:20). There is a connection with what is taking place as the people are in the wilderness and what had taken place. You might not see that connection but look down to verse 26, where the Lord warns his people that if they pay attention to him he will not bring what he brought on the Egyptians, the Lord is doing the opposite of what he did to the Egyptians, he is showing his mercy. 


The people had grumbled, Moses cried out to the Lord. So here’s a wee question for you, what is your go to response in this life, grumbling or crying out to the Lord. Are you the kind of person that will be on the telephone giving off about what you’re facing, grumbling about what you don’t like, what has been said to you, or are you crying out to the Lord asking for help for what you’re facing, for help to accept the things you might not like or wisdom to know what to do, are you crying out to the Lord for help for forgive that person for what has been said to you? What is it, your response in this life, grumbling, or crying out to the Lord?


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
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