Scripture
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” Numbers 11:4-6
Observation
As the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, God miraculously provided for them and gave them all that they had need of. Being in a wilderness, in a place of lack and scarcity was not a problem for God.
God gave them food that came down from heaven day after day. God gave them water miraculously from a rock. God gave them protection from their enemies. God gave them his presence in the cloud and pillar of fire.
Rather than concentrating on what they had, they looked at what they did not have. This is very dangerous but it is also very prevalent. Don’t we tend to do the same thing? Don’t we whine and gripe because certain things aren’t happening while totally overlooking all that God is doing?
Application
How on earth could God’s people complain about food falling from heaven? It seems to me they didn’t complain when they were hungry and had nothing to eat. They were quite pleased with it.
Now as they murmur and complain, I wonder what was in their tummy. Had they just eaten of the Lord’s manna? Had they just stuffed themselves and then started to complain.
It seems to me, this is what we all do. Rather than being thankful for what we have, we complain about what we don’t have. I need to spend more time praising and thanking God for what He has done and what He is doing. I believe if I would do that, I wouldn’t feel like complaining about what I don’t have.
Prayer
Lord, give me a grateful heart.
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1 comment:
What is most telling to me is who God's people were listening to that perpetuated this grumbling. It was a group of people who came along for the ride. They weren't sold out on God being anything special nor were they people who had any relationship with God.
yet when the infectous words came pouring out those who had a marginal relationship were quick to join them and before you knew the majority of the chuch had joined in. God called it rebellion and He still does.
So we need to know who we are listening too. Are they walking with God? Do their words line up with God's Word? Is God leading us in a different path then the one they are prescribing for us? If the answer is yes to any one of those we are on the path to rebellion if we follow or join in with them.
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