Worth Revisiting - Is The Lord in Our Midst or Not?

We thank Allison Gingras at Reconciled To You  and Elizabeth Riordan at Theology Is A Verb  for hosting Worth Revisiting each week. It is a privilege to share our work with them and their followers.

Here is my contribution: 

 

Is The Lord in Our Midst or Not?

(Originally published on March 18, 2019)

One question continues to echo through the centuries. "Is the Lord in our midst or not?"

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

After fleeing the Egyptians, the Jews grumbled about the lack of bread, the absence of meat and about the shortage of water. In response to each of their complaints, God provided them with the material items they sought – none of which could permanently satiate their appetites. 

Our Lord knew the Israelites would always be hungry or thirsty so long as they ignored His invitation to an intimate relationship with Him. The Israelites’ focus was always on themselves. They complained about God abandoning them and not providing for them.  

This self-centeredness blinded them to recognizing the presence of their God in their midst as He daily provided for their basic needs. Despite the overwhelming evidence of His loving hand and presence among them, the Israelites questioned whether or not their God had abandoned them in the desert.

Are we much different than those Israelites? Are we too not chronic complainers? Are we not as blind and obstinately self-centered, disobedient and untrusting as were the wandering Jews? Here we have Jesus physically among us, locked in the tabernacles of His churches. And yet for the most part we ignore Him. Instead of approaching Him on our knees, adoring Him and seeking His assistance, we snub Him and complain that He is distant and inattentive to our needs.

Had our Jewish brothers and sisters really believed that God was with and among them, it would not have taken them 40 years to reach the Promised land. Let us not make the same mistake. Let us go in haste and spend time with "the Lord in our midst".