His Glory in the Desert

III. The Leader’s Courage

After the people’s complaint and the Lord’s command comes the leader’s courage. I would not have wanted Moses’ job. Could you imagine being the leader of a congregation of several thousand murmuring people? The Bible says in Exodus 16:6–7, “And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?”

Moses had courage to stand. Moses gave an announcement with an admonishment that God would provide for their needs. This was a soft rebuke for the people’s attitude concerning God’s direction in bringing Israel out of Egypt. He reminded Israel that God again would show Himself faithful to His people, even though they had shown no confidence, trust, or gratitude. The Bible says in Psalm 77:20, “Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

Moses has the courage to stand up and say to the people, “I hear what you are saying, and I know that you think it was better back in Egypt, but let me remind you that in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord! I did not lead you out of the land of Egypt, it was God! ”

I remember moving to Lancaster, California, nearly twenty-two years ago to be the pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church. I recall knocking on doors in neighborhoods and inviting people to come to our new church. It seemed like the very first week was the hardest for me. No one said, “What must I do to be saved?” I remember thinking to myself, “How many Nugent streets can be in one city? Who planned these streets?”

I do not know how to describe it, but I felt lost those first several months. Every time I turned around it was like someone was watching me. I felt like the whole world and the devil and his demons were saying, “You idiot! What are you doing here? You don’t even know where to drive.”

It seemed like people were not being saved with the regularity that they should have been. I remember going home that first Saturday feeling like I had failed.

It seemed like people were not being saved with the regularity that they should have been. I remember going home that first Saturday feeling like I had failed.

I said, “No, you didn’t get saved today. You can’t do that. I am your dad and I have to help you with it.”

She said, “Dad, I know that I’m a sinner and I prayed.”

“I know Dad,” she said.

As we sat down on our old, orange recliner I said, “Now let’s go through this again. All have sinned….”

he said, “Dad, I know that I’m a sinner and I prayed.”

As we sat down on our old, orange recliner I said, “Now let’s go through this again. All have sinned….”

I remember our first stewardship banquet. I said to the church, “Folks, we need to buy some property.”

One man said to me, “What for? We aren’t even filling this building up.”

I responded, “I can’t fully explain it, but I feel the Lord leading us to buy land.”

Our theme for that first banquet was Giving by Faith. Several people had said to me the week before the banquet, “Pastor, what are we giving for?” I just said, “I don’t know; it’s just called Giving by Faith. We are giving to the Lord.”

Several people had also said, “Just so you know as we come into this special week, I recently lost my job. I don’t have the foggiest idea how we can give a red cent to the offering.” Many other comments like that were made.

I remember our first stewardship banquet. I said to the church, “Folks, we need to buy some property.”

One man said to me, “What for? We aren’t even filling this building up.”

I responded, “I can’t fully explain it, but I feel the Lord leading us to buy land.”

Our theme for that first banquet was Giving by Faith. Several people had said to me the week before the banquet, “Pastor, what are we giving for?” I just said, “I don’t know; it’s just called Giving by Faith. We are giving to the Lord.”

Several people had also said, “Just so you know as we come into this special week, I recently lost my job. I don’t have the foggiest idea how we can give a red cent to the offering.” Many other comments like that were made.

I remember our first stewardship banquet. I said to the church, “Folks, we need to buy some property.”

One man said to me, “What for? We aren’t even filling this building up.”

I responded, “I can’t fully explain it, but I feel the Lord leading us to buy land.”

Our theme for that first banquet was Giving by Faith. Several people had said to me the week before the banquet, “Pastor, what are we giving for?” I just said, “I don’t know; it’s just called Giving by Faith. We are giving to the Lord.”

Several people had also said, “Just so you know as we come into this special week, I recently lost my job. I don’t have the foggiest idea how we can give a red cent to the offering.” Many other comments like that were made.

If you are in need of some “manna” today, then there are two truths you need to embrace. First, believe in God’s faithfulness. Moses reminded Israel that God again would show Himself faithful to His people, even though they had shown no confidence, trust, or gratitude. The Israelites had forgotten what the Lord had already done for them. He released them from Egypt. He delivered them from Pharaoh’s armies. He performed miracles to boost their confidence in God. He led them by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. He had just provided water for them, yet they failed to believe in the faithfulness of God. I challenge you to grasp the truth of God’s faithfulness in your life.

Second, believe in God’s mercy. God could have dealt with Israel according to their murmurings and sinfulness, but instead He showed mercy by providing them a daily portion of bread in the morning and meat at night. The Bible says in Lamentations 3:22–23, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Our God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Never forget the faithfulness of God, and always believe in God’s mercy.

You may be reading these words and thinking to yourself, “I am experiencing the darkest hour of my life.” May I remind you, “The glory of the Lord is coming in the morning.” Keep trusting. Keep believing. As I close this article, I can honestly say that our church has seen the glory of the Lord in the desert of Lancaster, California. Over the course of several weeks the need of added expansion has been presented to the members of Lancaster Baptist Church. On Celebration Sunday, March 9, an offering was taken to meet the growing needs of our ministry. What a joy it was to see God’s people step out by faith and give willingly and sacrificially. What excites me most as a pastor is not the amount given in the offering, but the amount of faith excercised by individual church members.

I would ask you to pray for us as we venture out to accomplish the various needs presented by our ministry. Last year the Revels Building was only a steel frame, and today it stands as a monument to the grace of God and the faith of His people.

We look forward to using this new building at our Spiritual Leadership Conference coming up July 14–16. I hope you will consider being our guest for a few days. Thank you for your prayers. May God richly bless you.