by Pastor Rich Carlson

Slavery in Egypt has ended for the Israelites. After 430 years of enslavement, they're on their way “home.” There have been 10 plagues, a pillar of fire and protective cloud that moved by God's will wherever He wanted it, and the opening of the Red Sea. The journey to Canaan has begun.          

I read this morning about the "hardening of Pharaoh's heart," which to me is not an arbitrary decision of God, but rather a divinely predicted result of Pharoah’s response to God. Sun shines on butter and clay; one is melted the other hardened. That's not the fault of the sun. But I'm not going to write more about that today.            

I read this morning about the plagues and the Passover and the parting of the Sea, and they each presented challenges in understanding the workings of God. What stopped me as I read this morning was the song of Moses and the people. It was a song of praise and adoration, a song of deliverance and clarity, for they knew God was leading them. But it was also a song that was forgotten almost as quickly as it was learned.           

"I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted" became "I will sing to the Lord when I find that He is highly exalting me!"    

Ten plagues and they are free, so they praise the Lord. The Egyptian army is hot on their tail, so they complain to Moses about what a bad leader he is. The pillar of cloud and fire moves to the back of the multitude to distract and delay Pharaoh's army, and they sing the song.           

Let water run short, and the people grumble. Let God miraculously provide water with some "magic" piece of wood in the water, and they're happy again. Let food run short, and they grumble again. Let God feed them every day with manna, and they're happy again. Let God tell them to gather twice as much on Friday because there won't be any on Sabbath, and some go out on Sabbath morning anyway. Let them get thirsty again, and they complain about what a terrible leader Moses is. Let Moses strike a rock bringing forth a gush of water, and they're happy again!                    

How would you like to lead that group of "faithful"?             

The last verse I read today asks, "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7)  It caused me to stop and ask, Am I with the Lord or not?           

Those times I wish God would reveal Himself more clearly may not be God's lack in revealing, but my lack in seeing. Maybe it's not so much God’s lack of leading, but my lack of following!             

If God seems far away, maybe it's not God who moved. I believe in His faithfulness. I believe in His guidance. I believe in His love. When I don't, it's not God's fault.          

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.