The ancient Israelites always entertain me, and at the same time, they act as a mirror to my soul. In Ex 16:1-3, we find them in the Desert of Sin a few weeks after their exodus, their escape from slavery in Egypt. Their supplies were running out, and the “whole of Israel” grumbled against their leaders. They complained, “[i]f only we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our kettles of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have led us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of famine!” Ex 16:3.
Of course, I was intrigued by the idea that when the Israelites arrived at the Desert of Sin, they started sinning. I had to look into the history of the desert to see why it was call the Desert of Sin. However, everything I read said that it was just the name of the desert, and was not tied to the concept of sin as we know it. Still, it is amusing.
As an American who treasures my freedom, I was flabbergasted to hear them wish that they were once again in Egypt. They just witnessed the might of God as he struck down the Egyptians, parted the waters of the Red Sea, and delivered them from slavery, and all they could talk about was the comforts of Egypt. They would rather be slaves than free men.
While their story astounded me, I was even more astounded when I turned the light of their situation onto my own life. I found that I was not so different. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection purchased eternal life for me, and this includes the freedom to choose the greater good over the objects of my passions and desires. Thus, it is even more astounding that I, too, sit in a metaphorical desert of sin and complain. I want creature comforts! I want tasty food, no matter how unhealthy! I want all of the gadgets that sound like they will make my life better. I want success and prestige! I want … I want… I want!! Not being able to resist these wants is a form of slavery.
Luckily, God in his goodness knows how little and weak we are, and how difficult it is to avoid the allurements of this world. Thus, he sent his Son to set us free. He then placed his Spirit within us, and in this same Spirit we have the freedom to choose God over everything else.
Unfortunately, it is easier to sit in our own desert of sin and complain. It is easier to continue the insanity of choosing more and more earthly goods thinking that they will somehow satisfy our longing. However, when we exercise the freedom we inherited in Christ, we find our modern day equivalent of manna and quail in the desert. We find the quenching springs of the waters of Meribah and Masssah. All we need to do is call on God, and allow his grace to guide us past our worldly desires.
Spend some time with the Holy Spirit pondering your own life. Are you living in the Desert of Sin or in the grace received in Baptism? Likely, your answer is sometimes one, and sometimes the other. Talk to him about how you can better live in grace, and ask him to lead you out of the desert of slavery and to nourish you on your journey home.
In Him,
dw
thoughtsofacrazywoman.blog 