Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary Life
Would You Like a Little Whine With That Sir?
I looked out the window this morning and saw the car was covered with
fresh snow. I started mumbling under my breath about needing a break from the
snow and God reminded me that part of my prayer earlier in the winter had
been for more moisture to fend off a pending drought.
Ouch! Here was God, answering my prayer specifically and I was
complaining. I felt like an ungrateful, spoiled brat.
I know I'm not alone in complaining about God's blessings. The Bible is
full of references to God's people complaining about God's provision. It's
also full of stories of people who were just in the presence of God
complaining.
God delivered the Israelites out of 400 years in bondage in Egypt. They
had witnessed His faithfulness and power demonstrated through miracles and
their deliverance. Several days later they face the Red Sea. Did they trust
in God? No they started to complain.
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites
looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were
terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because
there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?
What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you
in Egypt, `Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been
better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
Exodus 14:10-12 NIV
Wandering in the desert, the people of Israel are being fed by God's
miraculous provision of manna. Every day there is enough manna to meet
everyone's needs. How do they respond?
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 NIV
Time and time again, we see God provide for them. Time and time again
they give up and begin to whine. It's easy to look at them and talk about
what an ungrateful lot they were. After all how could they whine when God was
looking after them?
How indeed? What about in our own lives? Where is God providing the
things we need or answering our prayers and we're doing exactly the same
thing?
Oh God stop the snow! Oh God I want a bigger house! Oh God why did it
take so long to answer my prayer? Oh God why?
The Israelites are not the only one affected by complaining, murmuring
and a lack of trust. You and I are equally guilty.
How should we react?
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures
forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1-3 NIV
Until next time, check your attitude. Is it one of grace, thankfulness
and trust or have the spirits of ingratitude, doubt and hard heartedness set
in? I needed correction on mine this morning.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!
Kevin
YOU ARE
Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are
rooted and built up in God, strengthened in your faith and overflowing with
thankfulness
So then, just as you received Christ
Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant.
You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You
are a blessing to the world.
Are you guilty of having an ungrateful or hard heart? There is a place
to go for forgiveness. Turn to a personal relationship with Jesus.
If you
haven't made the decision to accept Christ as Lord
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HERE NOW)
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