“Join us as we learn the conversation of hope!”

They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 

Exodus 14:11-12    

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” 

Exodus 14:15-16   

When I read the Bible again I am so impressed at all the pressure put on those who are called to be leaders. The Israelites are constantly complaining. They are led miraculously out of slavery and then they complain that they wish they were back in slavery. They complain because their life still requires faith. And poor Moses, God shows him no pity. He has only one solution – in tough times turn to God!!!   

Recently there is a series of scientific studies on faith being discussed on National Public Radio. Last week’s was led by Barbara Bradley Hagerty and it is called “The God Chemical.”  She notes a study out of the University of Pennsylvania which studies people of various religions including Christians who pray at least two hours a day. They are referred to as “spiritual virtuosos.”  Not only does each of their brains show a distinct pattern of increased activity in the cerebral cortex (good prayer takes amazing concentration) but a darkening of activity in the parietal lobe (the area of the brain that is related to sensory information). A demonstration of decreased anxiety, a sense of purpose of the events taking place and as well as other interesting psychological and biological responses. One response was an increase in the immune system especially against flu virus. Dr. McDermott reported on NPR, “I think we are wired for the supernatural!” The neuroscientists pointed out that our brain placidity held forth the promise that ordinary people could learn to sculpt the brain through such prayer practices.   

Oh that more of us could be like Moses taking all our troubles to God and listening to him. He might tell us to hold out our staff and tell the people to move forward in faith as the waters parted. That is a wonderful picture of spiritual leadership and how it could relate to our lives, families, church, nation, and world today! I pray that Washington Cathedral becomes drawn to prayer as we read the dramatic words of scripture in the 90 days through the Bible.   

“Lord, how encouraging it is as I hear that someone is joining Washington Cathedral as we read all the way through the Bible. I thank you and praise you for that! Amen.”   

Your friend for the rest of my life, 

Pastor Tim White