reflection of the brokenness of this world and the fallen nature of

humanity. But there are times when God brings struggle to believers for

a purpose. That purpose is always good, even when the experience is

awful. For Israel, God brings a roadblock and a loss into their story

for His work in them. As a newly formed nation under God, they need to

learn some things about the God they worship and the way they should

relate to Him. A seemingly unnecessary obstacle shows up and asks us

why God would allow it. Then a major loss comes and God seems to use it

to remind them of something and to ask them to learn how to grieve and

to look forward. In these stories, we’re still learning what it means

to be God’s people!