The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Exodus 15:22-26,”Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah.
24 So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’
25 Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them.
26 And He said, ‘If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.’”

Athletes who make three-point shots or cross the goal line or break the record for the
mile run are always hosted with shouts of joyful excitement! Those who don’t are like
the Israelites shortly after their exodus from Egypt.

If ever there were a group of groaners, it was the Israelites. Everything they did in preparation for leaving Egypt was done prayerfully and patiently. Yet, they had virtually
just started the exodus from Egypt before they ran out of water. “WHAT ARE WE TO DO?” they murmured. “We would have been better off staying in Egypt,” they growled!

We can hardly complain against the Israelites. No, they are not excused for their moaning
and groaning against God and Moses, any more than we are about a thousand of things.
We all could be more prayerful…more faithful…more patient. God provided water for the
Israelites; He will provide the things we need. Yet, it must all be according to His time.

Babies cry for more without knowing how “more” is going to work against their physical
systems. Baby Christians cry out for more, while simultaneously, blaming God for not
providing –not what they need, but what they want. Are we not like that? Does the LORD
not know the nature and timing of our needs? Of course, He does! Do His people not need
patience? Absolutely, they do! The promise of the LORD is clear and sure. The problem
lies not with Him, but with us!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own
understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will
make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom