“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the
congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which
is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their
departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children
of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children
of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in
the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to
the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole
assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:1-3)
We read the account of the Exodus with wonder in our
hearts at how the people could have so little faith. These same people
witnessed the ten plagues. They observed that, when they heeded Moses’
warnings, they did not suffer with the Egyptians. The final plague was the
killing of the firstborn. And even after they fled from Egypt, when it looked
completely hopeless, God rescued them from Pharaoh’s army by parting the Red
Sea.
Yet only three days after this happened, they
murmured because they had no water. And twelve days after that they murmured
again because they had no food. How could people who had witnessed such
incredible miracles have so little faith and trust in God?
I believe the answer lies in the fact that they were
human, and were in the flesh. We also are sometimes guilty of exactly the same
thing when we allow ourselves to become too burdened with the cares of this
life.
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not,
they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in
the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe
you, O ye of little faith?” (Luke 12:27-28) “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and
all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:31)
When was the last time you missed a meal because you
couldn’t afford to buy food? Sometimes we may not know where our next meal is
coming from, but doesn’t it always come?
Many of us can look back on some tough times in our
lives. We have been in difficulties where we didn’t know how we would ever make
it through. We didn’t know how we were going to make the next house or rent
payment, but, at the last instant, money arrived from an unexpected source to
cover it. Or perhaps we were out of work, and at the last possible moment a job
opportunity arose. We look back on that time and think, “Boy, if it hadn’t been
for (whatever), I don’t know what we would have done!” And in our carnal
reasoning, we hope never to be put in that situation, because the odds of
escaping next time are so small.
But isn’t the fact that we escaped against all odds
evidence of God’s care and protection of us? Shouldn’t we learn from this that,
no matter what happens, God can get us through it? “And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that
ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)
We who are in the Body of Christ are “the called”
referred to in Rom. 8:28. When we submit to God, we come under His protection.
That may not be easy to remember when we are faced with a hopeless situation,
but He will never leave nor forsake us. Surely a hopeless situation, where
there was no rescue, would indeed be a temptation beyond that we are able to
bear. We have the Lord’s assurance that that won’t happen. It has never
happened to you yet; why do you think it might tomorrow?
It seems that the Lord wants us to learn to trust in
Him. Christ taught us to “give us this day our daily bread”. Why
not just ask once and be done with it? But that’s not how it works. Each day we
are to ask for what we need to deal with that day. Beyond that, we need not
worry.
We have to do our part. The man who will not provide
for his own is worse than an infidel. We should be as prudent with our
resources as we know how to be. I believe that it is appropriate for us to buy
insurance, plan for retirement, and take whatever precautions we can to provide
for our own future. But there is no need to worry about things which are beyond
our control. To do so betrays our lack of trust in God. The man who has no job
should, if he has the maturity in Christ, be able to sleep peacefully at night,
knowing that he spent the day doing his part searching for a job, and that the
Lord will bless his efforts in His Own good time. “Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God;” (Phil. 4:6, NKJV)
If we are worried about something, we should pray
about it. Turn it over to God. It is God’s job to worry about all of the
world’s problems, not yours or mine! We need to set our lives in order, and put
God first. We should worry about the things that are our responsibility. Beyond
that, we should put our trust in the Lord. He is worthy of our trust. “Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter
5:6-7)
BOBBY
D. RAMSEY
10841
E Placita Metate
Tucson,
AZ 85749
Usually our high school days are filled with good times and celebrations:
seeing friends, passing a test, attending football games, going to the prom,
making graduation, etc. But on May 3, 2004, bad news struck our local high
school.
Four teenagers were involved in a terrible car accident after school that
Monday. The vehicle was estimated at traveling 130 mph, lost control, and
slammed into a tree. None of the passengers wore seat belts. Two were killed, a
16 yr. old and a 19 yr. old. The other 16 yr. old is still in critical
condition and the 19 yr. old driver is slowly recovering. My prayers are with
them all.
I am sure accidents like this or similar events occur nearly everyday
throughout our country. But Woodland is a small town, where everybody knows
everybody, and many folks are related in some way. (Two years ago I,
personally, taught the two 16 yr. olds their 8th grade math.) Thus,
this tragedy in Woodland affected many and touched us all.
There are a few thoughts I would like to share about this disaster. One,
it reminds us that life is indeed like “a vapor, that appears for a little
while, and then vanishes away” (Jas. 4:14). One minute the young adults
were full of life, excited over the idea of getting out of school. Within the
next hour their spirit had returned to God (Eccl. 12:7).
They didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Few of us rarely do. On the
average we may live to be 70 (Psa. 90:10). Some make it longer, but some also
pass away at a very young age. We just never know when our time will come,
therefore, we need to always be ready to meet our Maker.
Two, man is “stronger” then he thinks. Usually we think God is so
all-powerful that he sits in heaven and controls everything while men are
insignificant specks on the earth, like puppets on a string. But that is not
so! God created us with the ability to make choices. We are creatures of
free-will and therefore, we must accept the responsibility of our decisions.
At a time like this, some will want to blame God for the tragedy in
Woodland. But God cannot be accountable for man’s actions (Jas. 1:13-15).
Sadly, those four teenagers made their choice to go “for a joyride” and they
must now accept the consequence of their decision. It wasn’t God’s fault.
Three, human suffering is a result of sin. This can be traced to a
decision made by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they disobeyed God’s
command (Gen. 3:6). The outcome introduced pain, sorrow and even death to our
world (vs.16-19). So when we think of these young people and their families and
the suffering they have endured, it is all a result of man’s sin. Again, let us
watch that tendency to point our fingers at God.
Finally, as terrible as this tragedy was, I hope we can find a bright side
because “we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God” (Rom. 8:28). I already hear that the other students are being more
cautious when they drive. At the end of the school day, their goodbyes are more
sincere and heartwarming because they know life can be so short and no one is
promised a tomorrow. Expressions of love are more common, especially during the
memorials. And it caused many of them to think and to pray.
RAY
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
1. Which of the following helped David by killing
the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob: Benaiah, Absalom, or Abishai?
2. On the day of the Lord, what mountain does
Zechariah say will split in two, forming a great valley?
3. According to Psalm 69, who does God hear?
4. What happened while we were yet sinners?
5. What happened to the earth when the sixth seal in
Revelation was broken?
ANSWERS
NEXT MONTH . . .
and remember last month’s questions?
1. In the Old Testament, was Saul a prophet or a
king? BOTH (1 Sam. 10:1,9-11)
2. Where among men does Job declare wisdom and
understanding are found? AMONG THE AGED
(Job 12:12)
3. The Son of Man spoke to John in Revelation 1
saying He had the keys of what? DEATH
AND HADES (Rev. 1:18)
4. When people of Nazareth tried to kill Jesus by
throwing Him off a cliff, what did He do?
WALKED THROUGH THE CROWD AND WENT ON HIS WAY (Luke 4:30)
5. Why did Naomi encourage her two daughter-in-laws
to remain in Moab? SO THEY COULD FIND
HUSBANDS (Ruth 1:11)
GOSPEL MEETINGS
DATES PLACE & TIME SPEAKER
June Marrowbone,
KY James McDonald
4 – 6
(Woodbury, TN)
June Taylors
Crossroads Church Wilbur Bass
6 – 11 Roanoke, AL (Auburn, AL)
June Globe Church James McDonald
7 – 11 near Ashland,
KY (Woodbury, TN)
June Mt. Carmel
Church Sun-Ricky Murphy
13 – 18
Mon-Brad
Prince
Tue-Wilbur
Bass
Wed-Ray
McManus
Thu-Alan
Daniel
Fri-Mark
Carpenter
June Hokes Bluff
Church Sam Dick
20 – 24 near Gadsden,
AL (Cave City, KY)
June Ephesus, GA James McDonald
20 – 25
(Woodbury, TN)
June Chapel Hill
Church Sam Dick
25 – 27 Pell City, AL (Cave City, KY)
July Mt. Carmel
Road Church Wilbur Bass
4 – 9 near Alvaton,
GA (Auburn, AL)
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THE HARVESTER is a monthly publication intended to encourage all men everywhere to become laborers into God’s harvest (Luke 10:2). This paper is mailed free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. Please submit name, address, and all correspondence to:
Ray McManus
141 County Road 474
Woodland, AL 36280
Phone: (256) 449-9221
Email:
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