Dear Peace Members and Friends,
Tomorrow night, we continue Midweek Lenten Worship series with Holden Evening Prayer and the theme, “Lessons from the Desert.”
As you remember, “God led the people by the roundabout way of the of the wilderness toward the Red Sea (Genesis 13:18).” Apparently though, there are no short cuts or straight lines out of Egypt. On the way from slavery to freedom one might very well have to follow the roundabout way, what Robert Frost knew as the road less travelled. It is the right and faithful way, but not the easiest, simplest, or quickest one.
That’s what the Jewish people began to discover. As we heard last week, the walk through the Red Sea becomes a distant memory, and they were now confused, bitter, unhappy, and hungry. No matter how holy or chosen a people, when they are hungry they can become very unpleasant. Mess with someone’s mind is one thing; but you mess with stomachs at great risk! But the people Israel discover that God provides all that is needed to keep on moving into the future God has in store for them. Lesson learned for now: God will provide.
Israel keeps moving. But challenges remain and soon they are asking, “Is the Lord among us or not? (Exodus 17:7).” They are disappointed by God. What do they do? To ease their anxiety, they go looking for other gods who will not let them down and soon are making up their own.
That’s where we will pick up tomorrow night. Worship is at 6:30pm; dinner served in the Parish Hall beginning at 5:30. Join us for prayer, worship, and insight into our own Christian walk!
Grace and Peace,
Mark