Observations:
I had some cash on a recent visit to Waterloo Records, so I bought the new issue of Uncut Magazine. It's a UK publication that I like, because they usually have a lot of long, in-depth interviews. One of the headlines was about one of my current fav bands -- Muse. It said something like: "Muse: on talking to the dead, this, that, and the other." The only problem was that this wasn't a feature-length interview. It was a short interview in the front of the "news" section, and it was like the singer was answering some of those "word association" type questions, with real short and witty answers. Only problem was there was just about four questions asked, and thus the "talking to the dead (1), this (2), that (3) and the other" (4) were the ONLY things talked about in this so-called interview. I felt let down. I felt deceived. At best I felt tricked into buying the $8.99 publication (it did have a free CD with it).
I remember someone writing in once, complaining about a "worthless" piece we did on Stavesacre. That criticism hurt. I wrote that piece, including it in the magazine at the last minute to cover their Bull Takes Fighter indie EP release and using some quotes from an interview I did with Mark Salomon regarding the historical significance of The Crucified. The problem with the criticism -- the reason it hurt -- was because it was true. I didn't put enough effort or "meat" in that one-page feature. It would have almost been better to leave them out altogether than include a large photo, headline and one page with that text. I can probably make myself feel a little bit better if I compare myself to Uncut and realize that I didn't advertise that Stavesacre article on the cover, with subtitles telling about what would be covered in the story. But I still want to feel the sting of the criticism enough to want to improve and not compromise quality journalism like that.
xxx
Okay, on to Exodus chapter 14:
The Lord asked Moses to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. God had a tricky plan in mind. Pharaoh's heart suddenly changed (hmmm, maybe when God said "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart" again, He meant it...), and he said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"
He took 600 of the best chariots out after the Israelites. You have to remember, they were going after 600,000+ men (over a million people in all, plus animals, etc). They overtook the Israelites and they became terrified and cried out to the Lord. (Then) They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?"
Wow. I thought maybe sarcasm was invented by some drunken Hollywood folks sometime in the 20th century. These Israelites were funny! Even in the midst of real trouble, they were making light of their situation. Wow.
Moses told the people: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Moses was told to lead the people onward, raising his staff to divide the waters of the Red Sea. "Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long."
Wow. That is one intense action. Isn't it interesting that "the angel of God" was doing this? That's some powerful person/being, there. I wonder if this description ("the angel of God") is simply their limited method of describing God Himself?
Moses then stretched out his hand and all night long the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The Israelites went across on dry ground. That's some kind of wind! Not only did it push back the water and hold it like a dam, but it dried out the soggy, muddy river bottom so that they could walk across it with children, women, animals, and probably carts and whatnot. The Egyptians followed the Israelites into this new cavity, but God released the sea upon them and it killed them all. First He made their chariots break, with their wheels falling off, and then they freaked out and tried to flee, which is when the walls of water came down and swept them away. The Israelites saw their dead bodies the next day and they revered the Lord.
I wonder today what it would take for those wandering from the faith (some of which have discarded it) to come back to a "clinging to / trusting in / relying on" type of faith? Maybe they need to see a miracle? Maybe they stopped believing in God because they doubt He's real. Maybe a sign of the supernatural or miraculous will touch their hearts and they will turn once again to the Lord -- the Lover of their souls? Maybe it will take seeing love in action. Maybe the propensity and the current trendiness of causes and people getting involved in improving the world they live in -- maybe that is a yearning of people to sense the divine nature God wants for them. Maybe that is being expressed by people putting love into action and helping others.
Fads are a dangerous thing, because they give followers weird/faulty/wacked motivations for jumping in, but God doesn't always wait until we have the perfect attitude to change us. Even the Prodigal Son didn't really repent and have a wonderful change of heart when he came back home. He had a speech prepared for his father that would just get him a hired hand type job at his dad's place. But his dad restored him fully at that time, giving him the family (credit card) ring, clothing him with a respectful robe and placing him in (above slave status) sandals. King David saw the faithfulness and merciful restoration of God when he repented of his murder/adultery, but even that wasn't preceded by a wonderful change of heart. No, he got "busted" by the prophet Nathan about his hidden crime. Can we not deduce that sometimes God wants us in a certain place and that He doesn't seem to mind about the details that get us there? Perhaps the current "trend" or "fad" of getting involved with a cause is a good thing. Sure, it's got its pitfalls and dangers, but the increased attention unselfish causes are getting now is positive. Maybe people are finding meaning and significance there.
hmmm...
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at May 29, 2007 08:33 AM