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by Brent Walsh

"If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!" Exodus 16:3b

"Did you hear that? I told you this would happen! They’re laying off drivers left and right. We gotta find another company to drive for, or we're going to be stuck with a mortgage payment we can't pay, not to mention all the other bills! After all, they won’t pay themselves!" I continued to complain to Julie, my wife and co-driver as we walked out of the dispatch office of our trucking company.

I had laid out this doomsday scenario for Julie at least three times in the past. Once because our branch office doesn’t haul freight any farther west than Texas. I insisted that we needed a coast-to-coast company – one that offered us more opportunities.

Then there was the time when they temporarily laid off some drivers, including us.

The second time was when fuel prices started to skyrocket and small trucking companies across the nation were going under. I just knew that we were going to be in trouble because we drive for a small company, and "those folks in the glass offices of our terminal sure look worried to me."

Then there was the time when they temporarily laid off some drivers, including us. They told us it would just be for a short time, but I freaked out. I started hunting around for other companies who were hiring. It turned out we were back on the job within ten days.

Recently I once again started looking for the nearest exit. GM announced their plant shutdowns, and they are our company’s primary customer. Sure enough, they started another round of layoffs. Well no, we have not been laid off, but my worries started shouting at me "Will we lose our jobs?" "Will we lose our home?" "Will we have to sell all our earthly belongings to buy groceries?"

Oh, I know. This sounds silly, especially since every month God is obviously providing for our needs. We always have enough to pay the mortgage and keep the power on.

That is why I relate to the Israelites in this story. I understand their defeatist mentality attitude. They experienced a glorious exodus from slavery in Egypt that defied all the odds and clearly showed how much God cares for them. Still, they were quick to forget God's protection and blame Moses.

Now, we understand that all their needs were real. They were powerless against the Egyptians. They did need water and food. But their focus was on these things and not on God who is able to provide them – and did! So they constantly pointed their finger at Moses and complained.

Oh, we see their problem clearly from our vantage point. We want to reach through the Bible and shake the Israelites so they can see how short-sighted and annoying they are! But before we do that, let's take a look in the mirror to see if we could be afflicted with that same short-sightedness.

"Come before the Lord, for He has heard your grumbling." Exodus 16:9

This devotional was written to complement our story The Lord My Banner.