ARE YOU WHINING OR DINING WITH YOUR LIFE?
Numbers 11:1-15 NIV
[1] Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. [2] When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. [3] So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them. [4] The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! [5] We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. [6] But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna! ” [7] The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. [8] The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. [9] When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down. [10] Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. [11] He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? [12] Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? [13] Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ [14] I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. [15] If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”
Foreign travel can be a challenge. The food is often below par, the accommodations can leave much to be desired, the travel arrangements are usually haywire, and there is no air conditioning. A sure and certain recipe for complaints!
As the children of Israel set out on their foreign travel, they certainly complained. The novelty and excitement of being delivered from slavery in Egypt began to wear off once they embarked on their second year of freedom. The wilderness was no easy place to live even when they were settled in camp, but it only took three days on the march before the people began to complain to the Lord about their hardships. Some of the “foreign rabble” in the party became quite outspoken about their preference for Egyptian cuisine, and the Israelites joined in complaining about their steady diet of manna. I suspect many of us who are used to our comfortable lifestyle would have joined in the complaining of the wilderness travelers!
We may be surprised at how severely God responded to his people’s complaints, but we must remember that God had a grand plan for his people. This plan included redeeming them from Egypt (which he had miraculously accomplished), supporting tens of thousands of people in an inhospitable wilderness, taking them into the Promised Land, and enabling them to overthrow the resident population. For this plan to be accomplished, the Lord required his people’s unwavering obedience and unfaltering trust. He was, and is, looking for those who would cooperate rather than complain, who would count their blessings rather than chorus their gripes. But neither was forthcoming from them. While God was focusing on the monumental issues, God’s people were whining about dining.
In the long run, the wisest policy is to get on board with what God is doing, whether or not it makes us comfortable. The best way to get on board with him is to trust that he knows what he is doing, to obey what he tells us to do, and to have a thankful attitude for everything he has given us. If we don’t, he might become angry with such ungrateful, uncooperative children. He might give us what we want, and then we may discover we don’t want it. If we do get on board with God, we will arrive in the Promised Land, and that’s better than leeks, onions, and garlic.
WE MAY THINK OUR GRUMBLING IS AGAINST HUMAN CHURCH LEADERSHIP, BUT IS IT REALLY?
Exodus 16:6-8 NIV
[6] So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, [7] and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” [8] Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”
DOES BEING FULLY COMMITTED TO JESUS OFFEND YOU?
Are you tired of giving your time, heart, and being generous to GOD’S movement? You may say when does this commitment to Jesus our Lord end?
John 6:61-69 NIV
[61] Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? [62] Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! [63] The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. [64] Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. [65] He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” [66] From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. [67] “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. [68] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [69] We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Obeying God’s commands only start to seem like hard teachings when we start to love our life more then His will for our lives.
Philippians 2:14-16 NIV
[14] Do everything without grumbling or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky [16] as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Mark 8:35-37 NIV
[35] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [36] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [37] Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
IF OBEYING GOD AND HIS WORD HAS BECOME A BURDEN TO YOU, YOU HAVE A HEART PROBLEM. PRAY AND GET WITH A BROTHER OR SISTER IN THE LORD WHO WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE TO YOU!
1 John 5:2-4 NIV
[2] This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. [3] In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, [4] for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
OUR LIVES ARE A MIST, HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. BE GRATEFUL AND WILLING AND OBEDIENT IN TRUSTING GOD AND HIS LEADERS. ✝🛐
Love never fails
Chris C