Taking Care Of Itself

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”  Exodus 14:10-14

Who do I trust?  Where things are out of my control, I begin to ask myself that very question.  Do I trust in man or do I trust in God?  Sometimes, I trust in both.  When I first started my job at Thomson Reuters, there was a moment where I began to doubt if I truly fit.  Maybe I was not smart enough to do the job.  Perhaps at the ripe old age of 32, the world had passed me by.  I was having that discussion with a colleague who would become my mentor in a way.  Shortly after that day, he helped me get the opportunity to perform my tasks as everyone else, and over twenty years later, I find myself still helping others.  From then on, I trusted him, and even at times where he was critical of me, I listened and learned.  All this was before I gave my life to Christ.  As I look back, God was watching over me even then.  Why would he align me with someone who could help me the most?  How did He know exactly what I needed?  So, there are times where I am trusting someone, but it is not that I trust them over God.  Instead, I trust God leads my path where He puts someone there to help me.  To inspire me.  To teach me.  It’s like a prayer asking God to help me with the things I do know and to provide me with the people I need when I don’t.  The rest kind of takes care of itself.

We must always put our trust in God above man realizing at times God will give us people who will do His will for us.  In my journey through Exodus, the Israelites have reached the Red Sea, and Pharaoh has sent his army after them.  In reading this part, I happened to notice a subtle change in the complaints of the Israelites.  God had done all these amazing things that had both freed them from captivity and led them through the wilderness to the banks of the Red Sea.  Yet when the sounds of the Egyptian chariots had come, they trembled with fear, and began to blame … Moses?  “What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness,” (Exodus 14:11a-12) said the Israelites to Moses. What have you, why did you, and didn’t we tell you became the talking points?  Talk about killing the messenger!  Their trust in God had fallen down and shifted to Moses.  But this is why Moses was such a great man of God.  He trusted God over the voices of man.  As we previously discovered, he learned to trust God’s voice even over his own (I’m no great talker, remember?).  He made the bold proclamation, “The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.” (14:13b)  We often find ourselves putting our trust in the wrong people.  That is what happens when we look at the trees and not the forest.  God will provide us with vision to see what is possible, provisions beyond what our inner voice says, and faith to guide us to where we should go with or without someone.  All we need is faith in God.  He has never failed us.

We must always trust in God’s control of things.  We will often struggle trying to determine to either drive our lives or let Jesus take the wheel.  The reality is we need to trust Jesus already has the wheel and pray for wisdom that if we do choose to steer it, He is holding our hands guiding us.  So do not hesitate to linger or question God.  Trust that He has your back, and just move forward with the confidence Moses would lead the Israelites into the Red Sea.  Where are you trusting man where you should trust God?  How can you listen to God’s voice over your own?  My prayer is that we put our trust in God and let the rest take care of itself.  Amen.

Vegas Rules

“Here I stand.  Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.  Whose ox have I taken?  Whose donkey have I taken?  Whom have I cheated?  Whom have I oppressed?  From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes?  If I have done any of these, I will make it right.”

“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied.  “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”  1 Samuel 12:4-5

Does anyone know what the term ‘Vegas Rules’ is?  If you remember not so long ago, there was a commercial that talked about getaways in Las Vegas.  The commercial would usually end by saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”  This stuck with me in my walk of faith particularly when having controversial and private conversations.  I know one should not hold secrets, but there are times where it is paramount that we do so for it is written, “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.” (Proverbs 11:13)  Early in my career, a person at work had a problem, and they did not feel comfortable talking to anyone.  They asked if they could talk with me.  Not knowing this person very well, I was curious as to their motives.  So, I asked why they did not feel comfortable talking with their significant other?  They said two things that stuck with me.  First, they felt that I was a good man who would give them wise counsel.  And second, they knew they could trust me, and did not feel they could talk with anyone else.  The first one was easy to buy into because I was Christian, but the second one?  Now let’s not construe this as my doubting my own trustworthiness.  However, this was more about my reputation.  They had friends who did a lot of talking, and in their inner circle, my name came up as someone to be trusted.  It became a theme as this would be the first of many conversations I would have with people who I at times barely even knew.  Whenever someone felt unsure of opening up, I utter the two words are started with: Vegas Rules.  At that moment, they immediately began to talk.

As Christians, we have fundamental principles of not only love but also trustworthiness to uphold.  We cannot survive without God’s word.  Thus, what are we without our word?  Not worth very much.  The story of Samuel is a case and point.  He was a man so trusted, he was allowed not only to name the first King of Israel but also an additional one.  Why?  Because he always followed God’s will from the moment he was called by God to do so.  The impressive thing about this is that Samuel did not even know who God was when called upon, but yet, God trusted him.  And He was rewarded as Samuel followed God faithfully until his death.  He was often chosen by God to bear witness to His greatness, and because he was faithful to God and his word, the people of Israel entrusted him with all important decisions, including the naming of their kings.  We, too, must be vigilant in following the word of God not only in reading, but in living.  Someone told me long ago that the word of God is a living thing.  It lives within each of us, and as our lives embrace its teachings, we become living testimony of it.

Trustworthiness is paramount in our relationship with God.  Jesus spoke of this when discussing of readiness for the coming of the Lord saying, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (Luke 12:48b).”  Like Samuel, our words carry weight only by us following Jesus’ example.  That is what gives our word meaning.  Our desire to follow the example set by Him makes our words credible.  Let us make every effort to be the people God trusted us to be.  Can you be trusted with that which God cares for?  How can you use your position of trust to share God’s vision with others?  My prayer is we live out God’s will to where others confide trusting us like ‘Vegas rules.’  Amen.