Good morning:
Awake in the middle of the night with too much on your mind to sleep? It happens often these days. There’s so much to think about, so many concerns, so many unknowns. Did I remember everything I needed to do today? Am I ready for tomorrow? What if I don’t feel well? What if the person I’m counting on lets me down? What if something terrible happens? What if a situation you’re facing is so dire there is no way you can overcome it?
Moses had nights like that as he led Israel through the wilderness. On one occasion the people complained bitterly that they were tired of having only manna to eat. They craved meat. In response God told them that He would give them so much meat, they would become sick of it. But Moses didn’t see how that could possibly happen. “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” (Num. 11:21-22).
There was a problem, but it wasn’t with God. The problem was Moses. He made God too small. In his mind he couldn’t see how God could feed all the people, and so he concluded that God couldn’t. He made God too small. Isn’t that our problem too when we worry and despair of things working out? We can’t see any solution and so decide there is none. We make God too small in our minds.
God answered Moses, “Is the LORD’S arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you” (Num. 11:23). The Lord then used a strong wind to drive a massive flock of quail in from the sea and quail covered the camp of Israel a day’s walk in every direction.
The Lord’s arm is never too short. He is able to reach into each of our lives and provide everything we need for time and eternity. Look at what He has already accomplished. All our sins, from the guilt we were born with to our countless sins of yesterday, cut us off from God and condemned us to eternal punishment. It was hopeless. There was nothing we could do to escape God’s righteous anger. But He already had the answer from eternity, and in the fullness of time He sent His Son to set us free by taking our sin and punishment upon Himself. There is no bigger problem than sin, no more hopeless situation. Since God in His grace overcame it in Christ, should we really be concerned about the lesser difficulties we face?
Let’s not make God too small. Our sins of doubt, like all our other sins, have been paid for and expunged from our record. The Lord’s arm is never too short to save. Knowing that, we can serve Him today with joy and sleep in peace tonight.
Yours in His name,
Pastor
Service times tomorrow are 8:00 and 10:45 a.m. The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated. Our intergenerational Sunday school will meet in the fellowship area at 9:30 a.m. to view a mission presentation by the CLC Committee on Domestic Fields. All ages are welcome.
Here is the link for service signup:
The governor’s mask order is still in effect for all indoor spaces, including churches. Masks are available in the entry if you forget yours.
Remember to set clocks back one hour tonight.
