Is this us or what?

The Israelites were bondmen and bondwomen in Egypt for 430 years. They suffered great proportions building pyramids and kings tombs. They were greatly oppressed to the extent of causing 'pain' to God.

God took their suffering away and in the process, showed them first hand, His mighty power and presence. Before they even departed Africa, they had seen the plagues and then saw the Red Sea open for them to cross and how the Egyptian army drowned.

Amongst other things, they saw food fall from the sky, without any need to irrigate for 40 years, and yet starved not. They saw water coming off a rock twice. They saw God at the foot of Mount Sinai as a heavy cloud and a thunderous sound, that they even said to Moses, ‘Tell God we do not want to meet with Him again, He may kill us’.

Despite all this, they complained, comparing their situation to the one in slavery. They would ask Moses whether there were not enough graves for their burial in Egypt because he wanted them to die in the desert. After one such incident, when they said Egypt had meat for them to eat, and that they were tired of manna, God said he would provide them meat for them to eat ‘until it came out of your nostrils’.

This was His order to Moses; Numbers 11v18: ‘And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat?  for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.’

‘ v19: Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; v20: But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?’

This sounds like us sometimes. God takes us out of one bad situation so we can rise and grow to another level. When we face a challenge, instead of fighting to push through, we take the very fighting energy and strength for regret and self pity, regressing and wanting to get back to a worse situation. God’s heart bleeds exceedingly at this ungratefulness.

When bad is good.

I had the privilage of not having internet, cellphone coverage, TV or newspaper somewhere between the 2 years, ie the end of the last and the beginning of the new. I thank God for that, as I had the rare chance in this busy and hectic world to strongly reflect on his Word, the Holy Bible.

I made all the effort not to feel pushed into it, but consumed the words thereof as it were research, like just for fun. Having read the Holy Bible so many times before, and having been taught so much from Sunday School days, it amazed me how much stuff one missed. Even passages I thought I recently read, were like new. I picked up a different pespective with each reading. I suggest you do the same.

I realised that either by the paraphrasing of my previous teachers and preachers, not so many stories in the Holy Bible are really as I thought. It may be that I overgrew the readings that I got then. I really enjoyed it in a way that many think the Holy Bible can not be so enjoyed. If you could, read all the Bible in its chronological order and get amazed.

The first 5 Books of the Bible are an amazing account of the true existance of God. From my youthful life experience, the common man has an issue with God's existance to start with. If I were you, I would forget that and find something else to dispute. The account of Genesis to Deutoronomy has life true stories and places that I have been privilaged to be close to, by virtue of my work.

First and foremost, God is real and it is one arguement one should cease wasting their breath on. The debate can dwell on the numbers, places and names or spelling in the Bible, period. The accounts therein, not to make you feel pressured, should be first read as an account of events gone by. God will provide the intended divine intervention, if it be necessary.

I read with a lot of interest all the way, and came to a valuable point of seeing the power of God in the lives of people He loves. You may not get the same result, but if you can, read the Bible and we will discuss what you think and feel about its contents and stories. As it is, I do not even know whether to start discussing its issues from the beginning or from the end, surely, we will begin.

For now, chill, relax and be blessed. God loves you.