"The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.” NASB
I read this and think, "God strike them dead! Strike them dead right now!" How ungrateful! How selfish! How #@$&!!! I get angry when I read this. How dare they complain about how God chooses to provide for them! God has delivered them from slavery in Egypt! He freed them! He has shown them miracles and is leading them through the desert and RAINING DOWN MANNA FROM THE SKKKKY! But, that's not enough for them! They have to compare what God is giving to them to what they had while in slavery?? My mind just can't comprehend their attitudes.
Then God whispers to me "are you not the same?" My heart sinks as I realize I do this repeatedly in my own life! God delivered me from the slavery and bondage of sin. He freed me to live a new life in Christ! Yet, I still grumble and complain! I still have the audacity to question how God chooses to provide for me! I am guilty of missing the life I had in slavery and often reminisce about the luxuries I had before Christ freed me. I used to be able to party. I used to be able to dress however I wanted. I used to be able to cuss. I used to be able to sin without being aware of my sin. Ignorance was bliss. I can often get caught up in those ungrateful thoughts and think "God why did you even save me? This life is so much harder! I was better off in slavery."
Once again God has used His word to bring my sin to the surface so that I can face it and deal with it. The verse that comes to mind is Hebrews4:12 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." His word has cut me straight to the heart this morning. I realize that I am no different than the Israelites. This saddens me. My heart breaks knowing that I behave this way. That I have forgotten all God has delivered me from. That I complain at all when He has showed me great love and mercy and grace. He has pulled me out of the pit of addiction and placed me high on the rock and given me a firm place to stand!* I am so thankful that God has shown me the sin in my heart because only then am I able to repent and turn from my own selfish and sinful nature.
I read this and think, "God strike them dead! Strike them dead right now!" How ungrateful! How selfish! How #@$&!!! I get angry when I read this. How dare they complain about how God chooses to provide for them! God has delivered them from slavery in Egypt! He freed them! He has shown them miracles and is leading them through the desert and RAINING DOWN MANNA FROM THE SKKKKY! But, that's not enough for them! They have to compare what God is giving to them to what they had while in slavery?? My mind just can't comprehend their attitudes.
Then God whispers to me "are you not the same?" My heart sinks as I realize I do this repeatedly in my own life! God delivered me from the slavery and bondage of sin. He freed me to live a new life in Christ! Yet, I still grumble and complain! I still have the audacity to question how God chooses to provide for me! I am guilty of missing the life I had in slavery and often reminisce about the luxuries I had before Christ freed me. I used to be able to party. I used to be able to dress however I wanted. I used to be able to cuss. I used to be able to sin without being aware of my sin. Ignorance was bliss. I can often get caught up in those ungrateful thoughts and think "God why did you even save me? This life is so much harder! I was better off in slavery."
Once again God has used His word to bring my sin to the surface so that I can face it and deal with it. The verse that comes to mind is Hebrews4:12 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." His word has cut me straight to the heart this morning. I realize that I am no different than the Israelites. This saddens me. My heart breaks knowing that I behave this way. That I have forgotten all God has delivered me from. That I complain at all when He has showed me great love and mercy and grace. He has pulled me out of the pit of addiction and placed me high on the rock and given me a firm place to stand!* I am so thankful that God has shown me the sin in my heart because only then am I able to repent and turn from my own selfish and sinful nature.
Let this Psalm be the prayer of my heart this morning:
"The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be [e]blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Psalm19:7-14
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be [e]blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Psalm19:7-14
*Psalm40:2
<3 You are not alone.
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