by Bishop Bill Gohl
As the Israelites begin their wilderness wanderings, they question Moses: "Is the Lord among us or not?" They too are looking for a sign, trying to catch a glimpse of this God who was with them.
These Israelites have just come across the Red Sea. It's early in their 40 years of wanderings. So they have recent, vivid memories of the miraculous presence of God who saves them through the plagues and rescues them from Pharaoh's army as the waters are split open for their escape across the Red Sea. They have been led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They have filled their bellies with manna. They have evidence. But they want more. "Is the Lord among us or not?"
That strikes a chord.
Our faith is often about what we want God to do for us. We often measure God's faithfulness in terms of God's ability to deliver – to deliver what we want, when we want, how we want it. We proclaim God is faithful when we are getting what we want, and like the Israelites, when we don't get what we want, we quickly forget what God has done for us or consider all that God is accomplishing in and through us now.
And then what happens?
What happens when the job doesn't come or we lose on our last gamble or the diagnosis is bad or the marriage cannot be saved or your child will never get well or you are in the wilderness without a water fountain in sight? We too ask: "Is the Lord among us or not?"
St. John, Linthicum has come into a wilderness time. A pastor's ministry ended somewhat abruptly. A few weeks have elapsed. The gossip has spent itself out. Next Sunday, Pastor George Tuttle will begin what I pray will be a fruitful interim. And while St. John has enjoyed 90+ years of God’s favor, there are even some there who ask, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
These sisters and brothers are not unlike so many of our congregations. We struggle daily to re-root in changing neighborhoods, to reach a changing culture, to sing a new song, when, if we're honest, we liked the old one better. The wilderness of a changing landscape and world are not unfamiliar to most of us. It's easy to wonder, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
Those who survive the suffering of this world are those who see God not as a solution waiting to happen or a quick fix to numb the pain. Rather, God is seen as present in and with our challenges.
By water and the Word, Colten was baptized for such a time as this. He becomes a reminder of a God who has been faithful, who is faithful and who will be faithful. He embodies our high calling to pray for him in his new life in Christ, even as we are renewed in our own baptismal promises: to live among God's faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
As water was splashed around a well-used font, as the light was given and promises were made, in faith; the disquieted places in our hearts that wondered "Is the Lord among us or not?" were filled with renewed hope: "Colten James, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever."
Forever.
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?" – Exodus 17:1-7