In His Grip

From Dr. Chuck Betters' series"Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22"

A courageous woman shares her lifelong struggle in the grip of the lies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though typically thought of as someone who washes their hands repetitively, some people struggling with OCD have other rituals and some merely struggle secretly in their thoughts. OCD is a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans and it is believed less than 10% seek treatment. Here is a look at the many different faces of OCD and how Gail’s increasing knowledge of the disorder and her faith have helped her begin to heal.

A courageous woman shares her lifelong struggle in the grip of the lies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though typically thought of as someone who washes their hands repetitively, some people struggling with OCD have other rituals and some merely struggle secretly in their thoughts. OCD is a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans and it is believed less than 10% seek treatment. Here is a look at the many different faces of OCD and how Gail’s increasing knowledge of the disorder and her faith have helped her begin to heal.

From Dr. Chuck Betters' series"Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22"

From Dr. Chuck Betters' series"Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22"

Exodus shows us how God operates and cares for His people. Throughout the story are types: Pharaoh a type of Satan; Egypt, a type the world in which the believer, must live; and the desert represents our struggles of faith as we walk through this life and live our lives. Even though God had provided manna when they were hungry, they now attack Moses because they are thirsty. They are so angry Moses thinks they are ready to stone him. Eventually the Israelites spoke against God, asking, “Can God set a table in the desert?” They were angry with God and did not trust Him which led to their murmuring and complaining. When they complained about food, God gave them manna, a means of pointing to Christ who would come as the Bread of Life.  Instead of trusting Him to give them enough water, they complain again. In response to their grumbling God leads them to a place where there is no water. In this story we are reminded that nothing that happens to me is by fate, chance or mistake. Why can’t we see that those times of testing are God’s way of drawing us closer to Himself?

Exodus shows us how God operates and cares for His people. Throughout the story are types: Pharaoh a type of Satan; Egypt, a type the world in which the believer, must live; and the desert represents our struggles of faith as we walk through this life and live our lives. Even though God had provided manna when they were hungry, they now attack Moses because they are thirsty. They are so angry Moses thinks they are ready to stone him. Eventually the Israelites spoke against God, asking, “Can God set a table in the desert?” They were angry with God and did not trust Him which led to their murmuring and complaining. When they complained about food, God gave them manna, a means of pointing to Christ who would come as the Bread of Life.  Instead of trusting Him to give them enough water, they complain again. In response to their grumbling God leads them to a place where there is no water. In this story we are reminded that nothing that happens to me is by fate, chance or mistake. Why can’t we see that those times of testing are God’s way of drawing us closer to Himself?

The Israelites were angry with God. The drama of their delivery is behind the Israelites and now they are headed to the Land of Canaan. There is no turning back. . They travel into the Desert of Sin, an appropriate place for exposing their root problem. The whole community starts grumbling against Moses and Aaron because they want more water and food. Imagine, the WHOLE community grumbled. Counting the women and children, that was over 1,000,000 complainers. The undercurrent of grumbling was contagious. Grumbling led to exaggeration and wish they were still in Egypt where they “sat around the fires and ate anything they wanted.” They fantasized about their Egyptian life. These were slaves, no better than the animals. God miraculously meets their need for food by sending manna. We, like the Israelites are traveling through a desert, on our way to Canaan. Like the Israelites, we have to pass through the desert of Sin. The journey of the Israelites is not much different from our own. Is it wrong to be angry at God when the journey doesn’t go the way we hoped? What’s the difference between being angry with God and grumbling against God?

The Israelites were angry with God. The drama of their delivery is behind the Israelites and now they are headed to the Land of Canaan. There is no turning back. . They travel into the Desert of Sin, an appropriate place for exposing their root problem. The whole community starts grumbling against Moses and Aaron because they want more water and food. Imagine, the WHOLE community grumbled. Counting the women and children, that was over 1,000,000 complainers. The undercurrent of grumbling was contagious. Grumbling led to exaggeration and wish they were still in Egypt where they “sat around the fires and ate anything they wanted.” They fantasized about their Egyptian life. These were slaves, no better than the animals. God miraculously meets their need for food by sending manna. We, like the Israelites are traveling through a desert, on our way to Canaan. Like the Israelites, we have to pass through the desert of Sin. The journey of the Israelites is not much different from our own. Is it wrong to be angry at God when the journey doesn’t go the way we hoped? What’s the difference between being angry with God and grumbling against God?

A little boy, abandoned by his mother, shifted from one abuse-filled foster home to another, bullied not only by kids but by some of his foster parents, beaten and sexually assaulted by numerous people tasked with being his protectors. How does this little boy find a way to grow into a man who trusts God and offers help and hope to others through his story?

Bob Petterson opens up about the terrifying loneliness of abandonment, the pain of abuse and the memories of hateful abuse at the hands of foster parents. Is there any hope for such a child? Bob says there is and lives out that hope every day.

This story is for anyone who has experienced childhood abandonment, abuse, hatred, and separation from siblings. Yet it is for anyone who longs to know that in this messy, broken world, there really is hope of redemption and purpose for those shattered by the abuse of others.