At the end of my rope - April 25

Today’s Readings:  AM Psalms 20, 21; PM Psalms 110, 116, 117; Exod. 17:1-16; 1 Pet. 4:7-19; John 16:16-33

Moses and the Israelites are slowly emerging from the wilderness, and they are growing weary. They are thirsty and argumentative. Moses asks, “Why do you continue to quarrel with me?” The people complain, “Why did you make us come here?” At the end of his rope, Moses cries out to the Lord, “What am I going to do with these people?”

Flummoxed. Exhausted. Anxious. The sentiments in this reading from Exodus are so timely! Sitting in my house with home-weary kids who are missing school and social contact, there are moments when I feel I am near the end of my own rope. “Lord, what am I going to do with these people?!”

Perhaps you have said these words about someone, or some entity, recently. Moses can be a guide for us during this wilderness time, when many of us are in unknown territory. In the 17th chapter of Exodus, Moses turns to God in prayer, and God answers in faithfulness. God instructs Moses to go ahead of the people, stepping away from the tension of the camp in this moment. He isn’t to go alone, though. With his staff in hand, he’s to take some peers – perhaps for listening ears and wise counsel. And then, he is to go to Mount Horeb, the holy place where he received the Ten Commandments – and God will be with him.

Today, let us seek the space we need, pray for guidance, and entrust our lives to God, even when faced with testing and quarreling.

— Katherine+

Questions for Reflection

• Who are the peers in whom you confide when exhausted and empty?

• Where is a holy place for you?

Daily Challenge

The writer of Exodus gives us a challenge: “Write this as a reminder in a book…” Think about the events you want to remember during this time, and those you want to forget. Compose your thoughts and write the story of your experiences as a reminder to share with future generations.