WE’RE NOT LIKE THEM

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Book of Exodus

John [MKJV] 6:22-36; 8:1-34 … when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, Rabbi, when did you come here? 26 Jesus answered them and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, You seek Me not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for that food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you. For God the Father sealed Him. 28 Then they said to Him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent. 30 Therefore they said to Him, What sign do you show then, so that we may see and believe you? What do you work? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert, as it is written, "He gave them bread from Heaven to eat." 32 Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you that bread from Heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from Heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world. 34 Then they said to him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you also have seen Me and do not believe. . . . 8:32 … [Jesus explained] you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered Him, We are Abraham's seed and were never in bondage to anyone. How do you say, You will be made free?

  In being delivered from slavery in Egypt the Hebrews repeatedly saw and enjoyed God’s power and provision; verification of His indisputable sovereignty over pharaoh, proletariat, and environment. In reaction they cycled between high-spirited rejoicing in and melancholic doubting Jehovah. When their period of confirmation classes was over and it was time to graduate to major responsibility, they doubted Him again and a very expensive doubt it was, costing them dearly; depressing lifelong humdrum existence awaiting decease as opposed to vibrant life in their promised homeland.

  In the time of Jesus’ advent, the Hebrews were and had been living under the heavy hand of oppression. Once again their enslavers were the mightiest nation, this time the Romans.

  Reading God’s Record in Exodus 16, John 6:25-36 and 8:1-33 I ponder a different doubting; the idea that we’re not like them in any way. We’re more enlightened. We have His indwelling Holy Spirit. The belief that if God did the same things today entailing His power and provision we would be different, not at all like those stupid whining unfaithful Jews in the wilderness. We would gleefully embrace responsibility with any and all risk involved!

  Oh really?  EBB4