It is November and every November Facebook is flooded with daily posts of thankfulness. I love it! In general, my Facebook friends tend to be thankful and praise the Lord throughout the year. Still, it is a blessing to read posts each day with new things to be thankful for each day. This year, I decided it would be a good thing for me to do as well. Unfortunately, I don't update my Facebook very frequently so I end up listing three or four things at once because I've missed a few days. For my Facebook friends, I apologize. Okay, Enough about Facebook. Now, to the point of this post.
In Bible time this year we've been studying about Moses. Unlike the rest of our core subjects, I am not moving very fast through our Bible curriculum. We begin each year with ABeka's Salvation Series, which takes us about two weeks. We are still praying for Hudson and Bethany and Brittany to trust Christ as their Savior and the Salvation Series is a wonderful way to present the simple plan of salvation to any age group. Our first section in Bible this year was Moses and I've not made it very far. We started with Moses in the basket and we are just now getting to Rephidim (where God gives water from a rock). Bible is one of my favorite things to teach and the journey to the Promise Land can teach us so much.
Josh and Joy (my two oldest) know the basics of the stories so I can delve into lots more of the practical applications with them. These past few weeks we've been talking about Marah where God healed the bitter waters and how God provided Meat and Manna for the people and then Rephidim where God gives them water from the rock. It is easy to teach these stories to the children and tell them all about how God's people complained and whined and fussed to Moses and how easily they forgot about God's great miracles and failed to trust God. It is easy to talk about how they wanted to give up and go back to being slaves in Egypt rather than face the long journey to freedom and prosperity. The practical applications of these stories are numerous, I could ramble on for days about these things and, boy, could I make God's people look bad in the process.
Then, I have to look at myself. (That's the point of God's Word being like a mirror.)
I think about how amazing it would have been to be a slave in Egypt and watch the plagues one by one. I think about what a day that must have been when the people of Egypt released the children of Israel. What a happy trip out of town that must have been! Then, they faced their first test, at the Red Sea. God showed them His great strength. He showed them that they could trust Him, in everything. When they saw the deliverence of God and they were safe on the other side and the Egyptian army was no longer an issue, they sang praises to God and cheered Moses for his great leadership. It wasn't too long after that though that it started - the whining, complaining, the doubts and fears returned. I like to tell myself that if I saw the waters of the sea part and stand up like pillars that I would never doubt God again. Go ahead God, do something like that in my life and I'll never doubt again. I'll never complain about my circumstances or wonder how You'll provide for my needs. I'll trust You to provide if you'll just work a miracle like that in my life.
But He already has.
God has done as much in my life. He delivered me from my bondage to sin. He gave His Word to me that I could know Him better, so I could be encouraged when I am low, where I could be comforted when I am sad, where I could be filled with joy when I am sad, and where I can be empowered when I am weak. I have been given direct access to the throne of God! I have watched God provide. I have seen Him answer my prayers even when I didn't really think He would. And still, I doubt sometimes. Still, I complain about my circumstances and problems even when I know better. I doubt His power over my situations. I doubt His provision for my needs. Why? Why do I doubt a God Who has proven Himself faithful in my life so many times and never failed me.
The answer is simple - I am just like the Children of Israel. I've seen great miracles, but at the first sign of trouble, I start to fear. I complain to God. I lack faith. The Lord has taught me so much as I've taught the stories of Moses in school each day. I am learning to rely on the Lord as the children of Israel should have done. I've given my fears and uncertainty to the Lord - I don't need them anyway. Trusting in the Lord is something we each must do daily, but thankfulness for what He's already provided helps me to continue to trust in Him. Acknowledging the miracles I've already experienced will give me the courage to continue to trust my Savior each day. So, I will be thankful. Not just in November, but throughout the year, for the miracles in my life. Besides, giving thank is so much better than the other option.
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