Sleepless in Greenfield...

Have you ever just had one of those nights when you were so tired, but your mind just wouldn't stop? Attempting to fall asleep just makes you madder because you can't and so you start worrying about all the problems of the world? Last night was such a night for me. It started with one of the kids waking up and needing to "tell me something" (which was of limited importance and I might even attribute it to sleepwalking). I was awake from this and couldn't go back to sleep. . . and yet I tried and tried...

Now looking back on it, I'm sure it was God using my son to wake me up so He could speak to me. And this is why I'm convinced of that.

You see, lately I have been consumed with the state of the world (or at least the United States). I wish so badly that I had some perspective on the situations we face as to how we've emerged from times like this in the past. I've sought the counsel and wisdom of others, but there are time when you do just want to hear from your father or grandfather about how "Bishops get through this stuff." But I've never really had that kind of relationship with my father and this time of year he's always extremely busy bringing in the harvest. So I've neglected to ask. Yet I've tried to plow forward and find answers on my own. I check the Internet, the newspaper, podcasts, and converse with friends. I am absorbing everything I can but really finding only more confusion. All week, I've felt this nagging question, where is the Church's response to this confusion in the world? Who is carrying the banner encouraging people not to look at a candidate as a savior but the King of Kings as THE Savior?

So last night the confusion resulted in insomnia. As I was laying in bed, I decided it was useless and chose to get up, go downstairs, and complete my Bible Study Fellowship lesson and preparation as a leader. One of our preparation steps is to prepare homiletics on the passage we're studying. Homiletics are an intensive way to dissect scripture that helps you organize the content around the principles in the passage and seek personal application. This particular passage is studying Moses and the Israelites immediately after their deliverance through the Red Sea. We see that the Israelites immediately begin to grumble and quarrel with Moses, and ultimately with God. As I was studying this, I first realized the fault of the Israelites and identified with them in how quickly my praise can turn into grumbling. Yet, what I realized from this is how God responded. He didn't get angry and wipe them off the earth. He continued to listen to their grumbling. Moses tired of it long before God did. And yet, God continued to provide a way for them to be delivered. He sweetened bitter water and made it potable. He provided bread from heaven and quail for their diets. He then provided water from a rock when there was nothing to drink. Finally, through Moses prayer, He strengthened Joshua and his army to defeat the Amalekites. Each time He was providing a way to create the faith in the people that they would need to become a repentant nation and to achieve His purposes through them. (See Exodus 15:22 - 17:16 for the unabridged version of the story.)We also see God instructing Moses to "record this event" because memories would soon fade and people would need to be reminded in the future of His provision and to be encouraged....

I guess that would be me. I would need to be reminded AND encouraged last night as I read this passage and prepared my homiletics.

As a part of homiletics we're asked to state the "aim" of the passage. It starts with the aim is "to cause the audience to learn..." and you're to fill in the blank. I wrestled with this part. What is the aim. Is it to help the audience remember not to grumble when trial comes? Is it to remind them - like Moses - to cry out to God on behalf of others? Is it the admonishment to record God's provision for future generations? It could have been any or all of these. But the way I summarized it was by including this longsuffering aspect of my Abba Daddy that I recognized anew. . . and I stated the purpose as...

To cause the audience to learn that "Our long-suffering God will use ALL circumstances to develop AND preserve faith in His Church."

You see, each of the events going on today is a wake up call for us. Whatever is our "god" will be discredited. Our 401(k), our company job, our favorite candidate that we're worshipping... all can and will be discredited by the ONE true God. And His interest is in bringing us to lasting and repentant faith in Him. Nothing else.

So last night, it was through my son, and him waking me up - that I did actually learn how Bishop's make it through times like this. It wasn't from my earthly father - but from my Heavenly Abba Daddy that I receieved this encouragment. Isn't it just like that... through the Son, we find our Father!!!! Praise the Lord!

Now tonight, I'm sure I'll sleep much better!