Word to the Wise
Monday, July 20, 2015 - Monday in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
[Exod 14:5-18 and Matt 12:38-42]"Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt?" [Exodus]
There's no pleasing some folks! The Children of Israel complained about their slavery in Egypt. Now they're complaining about their liberation from that slavery because they can see the Egyptians coming! Pharaoh has changed his mind about letting them go! Of course, this is all setting the stage for the greatest biblical spectacle of all (tomorrow's first scripture).
Anyone in leadership knows the phenomenon that occurs when people beg for something and then complain when they get it. Some folks just live to complain. Parents know this as well! The kids complain that they don't have this or that. And when they get it they complain that it's not what they wanted. Our expectations of God can be like that on occasion. Perhaps this is what gave rise to the old saying, "Be careful what you pray for. You may get it." Can we remember an occasion where we complained against God? Did we pray for release from a particular slavery only to find freedom boring? Then we look at heaven and say, "Why did you let me pray for that?" Today the Lord might say, "Hey! Pharaoh's on his way! You'd better decide what to do!" AMEN