God is a spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
The Samaritan woman, knowing Jesus was Jewish, tried changing the difficult and personal direction their conversation had taken. Jesus used this opening to help her realize her need and that worship isn’t just going to a designated place or joining in a ritual. God’s people are, of course, called to not fail to gather together (Heb 10:25) but this in itself isn’t the extent of worship. Read more
And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the Lord hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.’ (Dt. 1:27)
Israel was on a journey. God’s journey. But when they came to the edge of the promised land fear took over; they balked and rebelled.
Moses challenged them, but he did not say, “You cowards!” or “You fools!” He charged them instead with defective theology, a perverted knowledge of God. They blamed God for their predicament, saying “Because the Lord hated us….” (Doxa–what a person believes–has everything to do with praxis–how he lives.)
On the other hand, Moses saw the exodus and journey to Canaan of a piece with God’s providence. He knew they were there because the Lord loved them. That did not mean there would be no difficulties on the way.
We too are on a journey. It is a journey governed by God’s love for us. We will encounter unexpected turns and many causes for fear and distrust. Only with a true knowledge of the God who journeys with us will we see it aright.
–William Price
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