August 2020
By Andrea Marino
For sure, the heat is on this August, the year 2020. The month of August is typically recognized as ‘the dog days of summer’. When the heat is on, people tend to gravitate towards whatever can bring relief. I have never been to a desert. High temperatures, lack of food and water, and miles of sand do not appeal. Deserts present challenges to human beings; they are hostile, even to survival. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the Judean Desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days and nights in Mathew 4. Moses led the Israelites through desert lands for 40 years. It wasn’t long after their miraculous exodus from slavery, they wanted to go back to Egypt where at least there was plenty of food and water. Numbers 11 gives one account of the ancient Israelites openly complaining before the Lord about hardship, among other things they lacked- and which had previously been provided. See Exodus 16. Such faithlessness made God’s anger burn enough to send a fire, which consumed a portion of the camp. Even Moses questioned the Lord’s allowing so much trouble to be upon them and upon himself: “Why are You angry at me; and why do You burden me with all these people?” Moses asked, reminding God he had not conceived any of them and wasn’t able to carry all of them by himself. Indeed, the entire situation was too much for Moses. His next words to the Lord God are a bit humorous: “If You are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now.” I hate to admit a mutual feeling within myself. Consumed by complaining, regarding the disorder going on in
FAITH ON EVERY CORNER
our nation while leaders operate in warped thinking, “Lord,” I find myself crying out, “I can’t take anymore; can you just get me out of here!” I find myself wishing to go back to last year. Surely my problems then were not as bad as they are now. As far as Israel’s hardship in the desert, the Lord answers Moses’ complaint, telling him to gather 70 men who would be granted “some of the Spirit” who was on him (Moses) to help bear the burden. Reading these words, recently, has caused me to understand I have been living in my own strength unawares. I needed to see my ways of coping with the teardown of America, before my eyes, is what has been making me miserable and anxious. The devil’s agenda to annihilate God and His ways from the entire world was never in my control. Once again, I learn I must put all my concerns in His hands, putting my loved ones, who do not see as I do, there as well. When the heat is on, God’s presence is with us and gives us rest, Exodus 33:14. His people are not to be afraid or discouraged because of the vast number of enemies against us; “for the battle is the Lord’s,” 2 Chronicles 20:15. He alone handles all the mess-ups due to evil in our world and our lives. A wonderful Preserver of His creation is He. When we fall under the heat of oppression, we are no less the apple of God’s eye.
