Enemy of Faith

It occurred to me this morning that the enemies of the Israelites may have had more faith in God than the Israelites themselves. The enemies were really afraid of God. Not because they knew God, not because they experienced God, not because they witnessed God but because they had heard of God. They (the enemies) had heard of all the things the God of the Israelites had done for His people and they were scared! They had heard about the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the delivering of the Hebrews out of Egypt and they were worried about fighting against God's people.

But the Israelites who had experienced all these things still doubted, grumbled and complained. They lived through and saw miracle after miracle and still questioned God's guidance and abilities. They were spoiled on the goodness of God yet still remained unconvinced that they were in a better place than when they were slaves, held captive in Egypt. It's amazing that their faith was so weak and their lives so full of complacency. Their enemies, who had only heard of God, were more aware of Him from a distance than they were even though they woke every morning to a cloud of smoke and went to sleep every night to a pillar of fire and were fed manna from Heaven, daily.

How often do we forget the miracles God has performed in our lives? How often do we justify miracles and blessings as coincidence instead of divine intervention or worse, give ourselves credit? Complacency is a dangerous place to be. When we no longer acknowledge the power and strength of God, when we feel we don't need His guidance, when we don't seek His will or when we neglect our relationship with Him we put ourselves in the same situation as the Israelites: wandering through a wilderness without hope, without faith, without contentment.

In all your ways (blessings, miracles, everything) acknowledge God and let Him direct your path to the promised land without asking questions or complaining, without taking credit for His goodness and without forgetting what He has delivered you from.

Follow these directions for a dinner that will not receive any grumblings or complaints! Pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and corn on the cob.

Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches
1 3-4 lb Boston Butt pork roast
1 red onion, chopped
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp smoked Paprika (regular will work too)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup water
8 slices Texas Toast (frozen section)
Extra BBQ sauce

Mix all spices and rub over pork roast. Place chopped onion in the bottom of a crock pot then place spiced pork on top. Mix BBQ and water together and pour around the pork roast. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until meat falls apart easily. Remove from crock pot, shred, add more BBQ sauce and serve on garlic Texas Toast with corn on the cob and coleslaw.