Musing – What to do Before You Panic?

 

Hebraic Musing – What to do Before You Panic?

While journeying across the desert, the Lord said to Moses “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'”  If Almighty God said that to you, you could justifiably have a “Panic Attack.”  Have you ever had a dire situation?  What can we learn from Moses’ response to this dire situation? 

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting.’  …  And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.  As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.”  Exod.33:7-9 

So, when Moses was frazzled by the idolatry of the children of Israel, he “took his tent and pitched it outside the camp.” This wasn’t the famous Tabernacle, which would be built later. This was an ordinary tent, or as Corrie Ten Boom called it “The Hiding Place.”** 

Basically, Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp.  And it is clear that the LORD spoke to Moses in that designated “tent”!  And BTW, all the people knew that Moses was listening to the LORD in that tent.  What can we learn from this?  Might reading Exodus Ch. 33 carefully help us understand how to depend on the LORD?

David Jeremiah* saw a parallel with this cute little story:

When a creative mother in Chicago noticed her son was anxious during the pandemic, she came up with a biblical solution.  Together they made a prayer tent—a homemade pup tent—and set it up in a corner of the boy’s bedroom.  Whenever he felt afraid, he could go there, read his Bible or kids’ devotional book, pray, and feel enclosed in safety.

As children of God, can we utilize this mother’s solution to her child’s problem?  Should we literally build a prayer tent for our children; or maybe we need them for ourselves!  Actually, any quiet spot where we can get away from the distractions of the world and enter God’s presence in prayer is a special place of refuge and safety.  

What did Jesus tell us to do?  “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt.6:6   I wonder if Jesus learned that from Moses, or did Moses get that advice from Jesus?  Or did they both get it from the Holy Spirit?

Almighty God, creator of the whole universe, longs to hear from us!  And even more amazing, He is always listening!  AND He really wants to answer our prayers.  He loves His children.  So talk to Him.

Points to ponder

Christian, what are you afraid of?

When your children call on you, don’t you drop everything to listen?

What distracts you while trying to pray?  What can you do about it?

♫  You are my hiding place, You always fill my heart With songs of deliverance.
                Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                    May 25, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

*   Inspired by and excerpted from David Jeremiah’s -“The Prayer Tent” May 19, 2021

**   When my daughter was in Europe she was actually allowed to crawl into “The Hiding Place.” 
            Her reaction – “How did that many people fit in that tiny space?”