Meat for the Hungry

  robert-linder-fcFEnjBmm14-unsplash In a few days, we will celebrate the moment our fledgling nation declared its independence from Great Britain. On July 4th , many will display the A m e r i c a n F l a g , fondly known as Old Glory. But how many of us know the history and meaning of our flag, the banner we A m e r i c a n s rally around?   Our A m e r i c a n F l a g “…comprises two basic elements: the canton or union (the blue corner with the stars) and the field , composed of red and white stripes.   The canton is a rectangle of Old Glory Blue overlaid with 50 white 5-pointed stars, representing the 50 states of the Union. The field comprises 13 stripes, 7 in Old Glory Red and 6 in plain white, representing the original 13 colonies founded in the 17th and 18 th centuries. After the federal government designed and officially used the Great Seal of the United States for the first time, they gave the colors on the A m e r i c a n F l a g a meaning: ...

https://pixabay.com 229117 Wisdom . Have you ever contemplated this word and its meaning? No, of course not. Why would you waste time thinking about something humans gain with study, life experience, or just seem to possess? Still, as wasteful as it may seem, lately I’ve been pondering wisdom . It’s true, wisdom abounds. There’s academic wisdom, science wisdom, business, sports, etc. Yet, this is acquired wisdom – knowledge gathered and expanded over years of study, trial and error. When knowledge in any subject is learned, wisdom usually follows. Wisdom applies the knowledge and these two fit together like a nut and bolt. Isn’t it interesting we even have the capacity to develop wisdom? How do we do it? And why is our amazing brain able to take in all we learn and experience and then produce wisdom ? The explanation can only be God .

Pharaoh and his army trailed Israel into the wilderness and overtook them camping by the Red Sea. As the sound of crashing waves echoed in the ears of the lead Israelites, those in the rear heard only the pounding of hooves. Screams of “the Egyptians are coming,” rippled up to the front ranks. With night creeping in, the ominous deep waters of the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind, Israel had nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. Terrified, the descendents of Abraham cry to the Lord, “ Jehovah, save us ,” and because our God sees all and His ears are attentive to our cries, He heard Israel. Nevertheless, in their distress they lash-out at Moses accusing him of leading them into the wilderness to die. But Almighty God had led them to this place. In his spirit, Moses knew God would save Israel. Here God would show His magnificent power.

With Israel’s deliverance secured and their memorials in place, the journey continued. “Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, for God said, ‘Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea…” (Ex. 13:17-18a) I’ve heard the walking distance from Egypt to Canaan could have taken only eleven days. If true, Israel might have been in their new home in less than two weeks.  However, God knew war and giants awaited them and they were not ready. So God lead them the best way, the way He wanted them to go.