Exodus 16:2-3, “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 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.”
I must admit that when there are shortages and inconveniences, and I feel threatened, I complain and grumble. Negativism moves in. My natural response is not to think back over the blessings God has given me and provided. Instead, I want life to be easier, much like the Israelites did in their complaint to Moses one month after leaving Egypt, and they seemed to be following a pattern in doing so. Yet all the Israelites had just composed and sang a song praising God, which can be found in Exodus 15:1-18. Verses 11 and 12 declared, “Who among the gods is like you? O LORD? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your hand and the earth swallowed them.” It was a lengthy hymn of praise to God over this Red Sea miracle where they had experienced the power and presence of God’s intervention and working in their lives.
Then, in two separate instances, they complained and grumbled. One was having no water, three days after walking on dry land through the Red Sea. Once again, God provided for them with good-tasting water. Then, two months after leaving Egypt, they came upon another desert, and the congregation grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. They wanted life to be more effortless, free from dangers and inconveniences. They continued their journey and complained about the lack of food as the supplies they carried from Egypt began to run out. They anticipated starvation as they started to feel hungry. Do you think they overreacted? Their emotions went from singing praises to God to complaining oh so quickly. “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” Think about this. What comes to mind in your own life when difficulties occur? Difficult circumstances often lead to stress, especially if they remain for any length of time. That is when the condition of our heart is revealed oh so quickly with our short-term memory loss. We are all sinners saved by grace in the presence of a holy God.
When pressure comes, don’t we all want a quick escape? But what if we focused instead on God’s power and John 13:12, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” I have something in mind right now in my own life. I have grumbled. I have complained. I have prayed for it to be changed, but it hasn’t. I am no different than the unthankful, grumbling Israelites whom God provided manna and quail for them to eat, which was a gift. God provided just the right amount for their need for each day. Hosea 13:4-6 referenced God’s power in the Red Sea miracle, “But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”
Remember, God’s strength will never let us down. He will do what you cannot do, just as He did for the Israelites. He did that for me this very week and I praise Him for that blessing. In Moses and the children of Israel’s song, they sang, “The LORD is my strength,” not the LORD gives me strength. Dwell on that. Lack of trust in God will always lead to stress. Our God is our defender, protector, and provider, and lives within you, and you are clothed in the Lord’s righteousness – having the Spirit filled life.
Here is the conclusion as found in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” We are to fear God and be obedient to Him in all things. “If you want to know whether or not you fear God, note your reaction when good things are taken from you. How do you react to financial loss, the death of a family member, the loss of love? How many of us, after experiencing such intense suffering, would be persuaded that God is bigger than our suffering?” Edward T. Welch, “When People Are Big and God Is Small.” Page 115. This is a lifelong lesson in what is called progressive sanctification. This separates us from worldly thinking, makes us more and more like Jesus Christ, yielding to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, and takes a lifetime to complete, despite our temporary short-term memory loss of past blessings, as we take refuge and receive freedom in Him.
Listen to Casting Crowns – Desert Road (Official Music Video).