Read Psalm 78:44-53. 44He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. 45He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. 46He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labor to the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. 48He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts. 49He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. 50He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague. 51He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
The wrath that Israel deserved was let loose on the Egyptians. The plagues that caused Egyptians to perish passed over the Hebrews. The shepherding hand of the Lord guided his people, not because of their faithful obedience, but because of his faithful love.
Have we forgotten this?
On the other side of the sea are we sitting pretty in the blessings of Christ assuming that somehow we are the good ones who got what we deserved? How can we tell? We can tell by what comes out of our hearts. Gratitude or complaint. Humility or entitlement.
Look at the cross again. Look at the burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress of the cross of Christ. The Father let loose on Jesus all that you and I deserved. Have we forgotten this?
May to live is Christ be our reminder each day of what we deserve as opposed to what we received in him.
Prayer. Jesus, why you chose to shepherd me is beyond me. Help me to never forget your grace. May I live in you and for you each day. Amen.
To Live is Christ 