Back in Biblical times, when the Jewish people left Egypt, they witnessed one amazing miracle after another. From the nature-defying splitting of the Red Sea to the awe-inspiring capacity to draw water from a rock, miracles were abound. And yet, the Jewish people were constantly complaining. No sooner had they crossed the sea to dry land, saved from the Egyptians, they were whining to Moses about the water situation. Manna fell from the sky every day so they were never hungry, yet they complained about the lack of meat. How could the Jewish nation be so ungrateful?
At a class I attended yesterday following Sabbath services, I learned a new perspective on miracles, then and now. Imagine someone from those Biblical times today, viewing our world as we live it. From their perspective, we have no right to complain about lacking for anything. Unlike the Jewish people post-Egypt, most of us don’t live in the dessert. We are lucky enough to turn on a tap to get water or go to the store to buy what we need. We can plant seeds and grow fruits and vegetables. We don’t need to rely on big miracles. We are self-reliant. We are at choice.
Imagine for a moment living in biblical Egypt. If the Manna didn’t fall for a day or two, you could die. If the rock didn’t produce water, where would the water come from? We are luckier than we think. We are living in a time of great opportunity. If we open our eyes, we can see the possibilities that lie before us. We can use our skills to achieve a great deal. We can reach almost limitless potential. It is there for the asking.
I encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the miracles in your life right now. What miracles are you overlooking?
