Deuteronomy 9:24 -You have been rebellious against the Lord ever since I have known you. (NIV)

 2 Chronicles 7:14 – if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)

I am drinking my coffee this morning that I made in my new coffee maker.  I’m looking over the instruction booklet while I sip, and some of the comments make me laugh. I am instructed to use a cup to catch the hot liquid and not to try to catch it in my hands. Come on, really?  I have heard it said that if the company warns against doing it, that someone has done it. You really should not have to tell someone that hands aren’t the best containers for hot liquids.  The other day I saw a sign at a railroad crossing that said cars need to yield to oncoming trains.  Again………really?  Someone needed to be told that in a confrontation between a car and a train, the train will win and the car will definitely lose.  Why do people have to be told these things?  Why did You have to tell us not to murder other people?  Why did You need to tell us not to cheat on the spouse we vowed to stick with through good times and bad?  Why did You have to tell us not to take things that don’t belong to us and not to lie about people?  Why did You have to tell us to honor our parents, to worship and to rest?  Why did You have to preface the ten commandments with reminding people of Your holiness and Your power and protection (Exodus 20)?  Why are we still dealing with murder, sexual sin, and fear of our fellow man?  Why are we still dealing with parental abuse, churches that are dying from lack of interest, and families being destroyed because of workaholic parents?  Once again………REALLY?  Oh, Lord, we are sinful people living in a sinful world.  In Deuteronomy 9:24 Moses tells the people that they have been rebelling against You since he has known them.  Nehemiah 9:16-17 tells about the people becoming arrogant.  They not only refused to listen to You but also refused to remember Your wondrous care of them.  But verse 19 says it all — because of Your great compassion, You did not abandon them.  Lord, I feel that we are living in the Nehemiah 9:16-17 world, but I pray for Your compassion.  2 Chronicles 7:14 tells Your people to humble themselves (not be arrogant), to pray (listen), to turn from evil.  Thank You, Lord that You are willing to forgive our sinful ways.