Provision

Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst? -Exodus 17:3

Last Sunday, the word “grumbling” jumped out at me in the Matthew parable about the generous employer. People were grumbling that those hired late in the day received the same provision as those who had been working all day long. This week, we hear grumbling from the Israelites in the wilderness in the Track 1 reading. In this passage, they have stopped to make camp in a place without a source of fresh water and they’re thirsty. And so they grumble, because this endless journey is really hard and they’re really sick of it and they just want some fresh water for Pete’s sake. They blame Moses for their troubles, saying they wish he’d never dragged them out here. It often feels better to at least find someone to blame when things feel so out of control.

Moses cries to God for help with the people, who he says are almost ready to stone him. “What am I supposed to do with them!?” he cries. So God tells Moses to strike a rock with his rod, and when he does, water pours out, reminding the people once again that God will provide. Just as God had reminded them with the manna. Just as God had reminded them with the quails. Just as God had reminded them in liberating them from slavery. Moses called that place “Massah and Meribah,” which means “test and quarrel,” because the Israrelites had quarreled and put God to the test, asking “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Rev. Kentina Washington-Leapheart commented on this passage recently in a blog and made some thoughtful comparisons between grumbling of the Israelites and the grumbling she’s hearing around her during the pandemic. She speaks specifically about the no-win situation in creating public school plans that are different, confusing, disappointing to so many. She writes:

Provision in Exodus (freedom, manna, water) doesn’t come without some challenge in the process and likely some no-win or less-than-ideal solutions. But provision is made ultimately by God, with the people being guided by Moses. Provision in this time of COVID-19 won’t come without challenge either, and, as the plans have already shown, it won’t come without some no-win or less-than-ideal solutions.

But provision has come and will continue to come—ultimately from God. With or without grumbling or complaining, the Spirit will still be at work. There is hope on the other side of the complaints.

I was moved by her words. And I was comforted by the reminder that God will provide. God’s provision may not come in the way we expect, or want, or even like, but it will come nonetheless. And it will come whether we grumble or not. The Spirit is moving among us, even now, and will continue to do so until - and after - the day we can finally look back on this in the rear view mirror.

We all have complaints about this terrible time, and we’re all too familiar with the less-than-ideal solutions we’ve had to come up with during this ‘Covidtide’ - at work, in school, in our community and in our church. Even so, this old story from Exodus reminds us that there is hope on the other side of the complaints.

Our readings for this week are HERE. Ordinary time offers many readings to contemplate each Sunday. Track 1 will lead you through certain Old Testament books week by week more in depth. Track 2 provides an Old Testament text that is meant to compliment the Gospel of the week.