Today’s reading: Exodus 16-18; Matthew 19:16-30
3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:3
27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Matthew 19:27
God calls His people to leave all and follow Him. The faith of the Israelites was tested as they experienced hunger, thirst, and war after their exodus from Egyptian slavery. They selectively remembered the good times and tasty foods in Egypt and forgot the oppressive slave masters, the scrounging for straw, and the daily quotas of brick production. The tendency to filter out the bad memories and complain about their present conditions is a constant problem for the Israelites.
Jesus, too, called His disciples to leave all behind and follow Him. Peter waxed nostalgic, it seems, as he pondered the cost of following the Lord. “What then will we have?” he asks.
Jesus is quick to reassure him. What will they have?
A new world where Jesus Christ will sit on His glorious throne.
Thrones where the apostles would have power and authority to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
All that they had given up 100 times over.
Eternal life.
How does that sound to you? It sounds great to me. I think I can plod on another day, maybe many more days. Whatever it takes. Nah, I don’t miss Egypt.
Do you?
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