Pray. Trust. See.
February 13, 2022 — Laura House
From the earliest ballet performances of Megan’s students, Nathan served as her “tech guy.” The first spotlight was actually an overhead projector lamp that he rigged up, and it worked pretty well. But the next show had much more high-tech lighting and a soundboard. Watching the professional productions now from Ecclesia School of the Arts, it’s fun to think about the beginnings when a teenage girl followed the Lord’s prompting to share the Gospel through dance.
In addition to serving as AV guy, some of Nathan’s innovations were used in those early years of ballet performances. One of his favorite TV shows at the time was MacGyver, and we always kidded him that he was just like him. Where we saw a pile of wires and junk, Nathan could envision a valuable project. And duct tape! I was constantly amazed by the creations he made from duct tape.
So when it was time for the ballet performance of “Deliver Us,” the story of God using Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, Nathan had some elaborate prop ideas. There was the “burning bush,” created with logs, duct tape, tissue paper, flashlights, and fishline to make it appear and disappear from the stage. But by far, Nathan’s best idea, or at least the other teenage boys thought so, involved the plagues that God brought on the Egyptians. When it came time for the plague of frogs, Nathan and his friends drove their remote control cars with frogs strapped to the hoods, up the aisles through the audience. It provided a moment of laughter in the midst of the serious story and made quite a memory for us.
Recently when I was thinking about the ballet, I decided to read the Exodus account again. This time, one thing struck me in the story that I don’t think I had really considered before.
After all of the plagues, after God led them by day and night with pillars of cloud and fire, after He parted the Red Sea for them to pass through and closed it over the Egyptians after they praised and worshiped the Lord for His rescue, after seeing the miraculous power of God repeatedly played out right in front of their eyes, the people doubted God. Seriously?!
Take a look at Exodus 15:22-25. Only three days after crossing the Red Sea, they couldn’t seem to find water in the desert and began to complain. The Bible states there were “about 600,000 men, not counting women and children,” so that likely means two million or more people needed clean water. But hadn’t God just led them through the parted sea? Had they already forgotten all that God had done? Would He leave them in the desert to die? Of course not. “Moses prayed earnestly to the Lord” and trusted Him, and God provided plenty of clean water. Another miracle. God was faithful to those He created and loved.
About six weeks later, the saga repeated itself and now the people were convinced that they would starve. Exodus 16:3 records their words, “We wish that the Lord had killed us in Egypt. There we could at least sit down and eat meat and as much other food as we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert to starve us all to death.” Had they already forgotten all that God had done? Then God provided manna, a sweet-tasting bread that covered the ground each morning, and quail for meat each evening. Another miracle. God was faithful to those He created and loved.
When the people journeyed to a new place, the water scenario repeated itself. Had they forgotten all that God had done? It seems so. In Exodus 17:3b, they said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? To kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” “Moses prayed earnestly to the Lord” and trusted Him, and once again, God provided water. Another miracle. God was faithful to those He created and loved.
It’s easy for us to be critical of the Israelites, their incredible lack of faith, their forgetfulness of previous rescues, their complaining, and their inability to grasp the promises of God. But if we take a look at ourselves, are we really much different?
When we experience suffering and grief, do we remember all that God has done? Do we trust in His goodness and love for those He created? Or do we doubt and complain?
May it be said of us that when trouble, heartache, and suffering came to us that we “prayed earnestly to the Lord” and trusted Him. Then we will see that God will be faithful to those He created and loves — you and me.
Pray.
Trust.
See.
