Grumbling
In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Exodus 16:2-3
Fickle is the word that comes to mind. I’m not talking about Israel (well, I am), but I’m really thinking about myself. One day, “God is good, His love endures forever!” That’s what’s happening in my head anyway. But the next, it’s something like, “why God!?”
It’s been a month since Israel was rescued out of slavery in Egypt. A month since 50+ years of oppression was ended by God’s mighty hand. A few months ago they were crying out for help and rescue. Now, they cry out to God in complaints and grumbling.
What’s happened? Well, the food that they brought out with them from Egypt has probably run out and they are in the barren wilderness. But has not God already provided for their salvation? Will He really now leave them to starve? Is His power depleted or has He now decided it’s time to leave them on their own.
Better to ask yourself today. If God has provided for you through His Son, do you think He will then leave you to perish? Ah, you say, but God hasn’t provided this or this for me. That is a different issue.
Has He promised to provide everything? Or that we will never lack? No. He has promised to always be with us. He has promised to keep us in His love. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. And He has promised to provide, though maybe not always in the way we might envision.
But on another note. Have you cried out to Him? Have you prayed before you grumbled? Can I encourage you today? Call on Him to provide. But as you do, remember His goodness to you in Jesus. If all we receive from God is our salvation - well, what more could we ask for?
For Today:
Pray:
Exodus 16:2-3
Fickle is the word that comes to mind. I’m not talking about Israel (well, I am), but I’m really thinking about myself. One day, “God is good, His love endures forever!” That’s what’s happening in my head anyway. But the next, it’s something like, “why God!?”
It’s been a month since Israel was rescued out of slavery in Egypt. A month since 50+ years of oppression was ended by God’s mighty hand. A few months ago they were crying out for help and rescue. Now, they cry out to God in complaints and grumbling.
What’s happened? Well, the food that they brought out with them from Egypt has probably run out and they are in the barren wilderness. But has not God already provided for their salvation? Will He really now leave them to starve? Is His power depleted or has He now decided it’s time to leave them on their own.
Better to ask yourself today. If God has provided for you through His Son, do you think He will then leave you to perish? Ah, you say, but God hasn’t provided this or this for me. That is a different issue.
Has He promised to provide everything? Or that we will never lack? No. He has promised to always be with us. He has promised to keep us in His love. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. And He has promised to provide, though maybe not always in the way we might envision.
But on another note. Have you cried out to Him? Have you prayed before you grumbled? Can I encourage you today? Call on Him to provide. But as you do, remember His goodness to you in Jesus. If all we receive from God is our salvation - well, what more could we ask for?
For Today:
- Have you grumbled recently about God? To yourself or to others?
- What has God given you?
- Remind yourself of the many blessings you already have in Jesus.
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is our good provider.
- Give thanks for Jesus Christ who is our ultimate provision.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others give thanks rather than grumble.
Posted in Exodus
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