How quickly our opinion can change. Opposition vs. faith

How many times have you changed your mind about something?  My cousin bought a cool foreign car that he hadn't seen anyone else with.  It should have been a show stopper, you know, the only one of its kind around.  Instead, what he thought was going to be this great car turned out to be a lemon.  Constant electrical problems and being towed.  Your excitement about a new car quickly turns to disgust and frustration when it doesn't work like it should.

Seems like our opinions of our situation in life can change pretty quick too.  I must confess that I've had days (more than I want to publicly admit, though I'm pretty sure my Mom is the only one who will read this...) when what started out great soon took a turn just because it took a few extra minutes to find my keys.  Or, I had to go back to the house after I had left to get something I forgot.  Neither of these minor annoyances was any big deal but I have had bigger issues.  I have worked hard to prepare for a meeting or a move or change or new plan at church and was really excited about it only to face a relatively small amount of opposition and my whole demeanor just tanks.  I go from really excited and looking forward to the future to depressed, angry, annoyed and, well, just ready to throw in the towel.

The Israelites opinion about their situation changed pretty quick too.

Over the previous weeks or maybe months, they had seen incredible sights.  Lighting bolts shoot to the ground and then roll around.  Hail stones that killed cattle and people.  A black sheet, completely cutting off the sun, drop on an entire nation without affecting anyone around them.  They had seen that same nation filled with frogs and gnats and locusts but no one else was touched.  They had seen some incredible sights.  And then, on their way out of Egypt, after all 10 miraculous plagues, they went to their neighbors and asked for whatever they could give them - they plundered Egypt and it was all just given to them (I can't even get a neighbor to help me load the moving truck - let alone give me money, gold, or some cattle!).

Now they are camped at the edge of the sea, just like God told them to do, waiting for direction from God through Moses as to what they were to do next.  And all the sudden they see the dust storm from the chariots of Egypt coming their direction and they complain to Moses, "didn't we say 'leave us alone. let us serve the Egyptians?'" Now, here's what I find odd.  In verse 8 of Exodus 14 it says that the people of Israel were, "marching out boldly" (NIV).  Imagine, all the people, done with their slavery, done with making bricks AND having to gather the straw to meet their quota.  Done with nothing but fish and onions every day for dinner.  Done with Egyptians killing their children, raping their women and beating them if they didn't perform. All of it was over and on top of that they are loaded down with gold, silver, livestock, flocks and herds, clothes and everything they could carry.  Of course they were marching out boldly!  Their God had just unleashed incredible plagues on Egypt and left Goshen (a border area) untouched!  Amazing!

All of this and then someone sees a cloud of dust and their day goes south in a hurry.  What changed?  What happened between boldly to "leave us alone!"?  Opposition happened.  Isn't it easier to say, "God is great!"  when life is great?  But when we face opposition from the enemy pretty soon it's, "leave me alone, God!"  Even the evil king of Israel blamed God when his city was under siege and his people dying (2 Kings 6).  When opposition comes we quickly forget all that God has done and wonder what God IS DOING.  And if He's not acting fast enough, or doesn't get us out of trouble before it really hits then we're upset with Him.

But what would have happened if the waters would have parted when there was no fear?  Well, God would not have had opportunity to once again gain glory for Himself through the Egyptians (honestly, any one of the plagues or the parting of the sea could have caused Egypt to repent) who He certainly wanted to save.  The sea was just another chance for the Egyptians to believe while proving God's providence and power once again to the Israelites.

Look, without opposition there can be no strengthening of faith.  If you knew everyone would accept your invitation to attend church and would be saved and thank you profusely you invite everyone, right?  But there is opposition so that our faith might be built-up.  If you knew God was going to heal every person you prayed for, even strangers in the street, you'd stop everybody who had a problem and pray for healing.  If the enemy totally left you alone once you accepted Jesus how would your faith be built.

Without opposition there is no increased strength.  Without opposition our faith would atrophy, wither and die.  If I knew God would always provide, always heal, always do everything I asked I wouldn't need faith, it wouldn't exist.  Faith is being sure of what we HOPE for and certain of what we do NOT see.  Faith says, this opposition is fierce, this mountain steep, this river wide, this problem consuming... but God is stronger, tougher and bigger than any opposition we may face.  I just need to remember that.