Complaints
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?” Exodus 14:11 ESV
How easy it is to complain. How easy it is to doubt. How easy it is to forget what God has delivered us from and to take for granted where we are. I recently saw an old high school teacher. He handed me a card that said, “History is a lot like English, the past is perfect and present is tense.” We see that reflected in the complaints of the Children of Israel.
The first obstacle was the Red Sea. They immediately fear the worst and lose all resolve. They even say to Moses, “Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12 ESV)
Hugh? Aren’t these the people that cried out the Lord in their suffering that lead the Lord to call Moses to a special task? Is it really better to endure life as slaves, than to venture to the Lord to a brighter future, even if challenges arise?
The next test came right after the rejoicing of the victory at the Red Sea had ended. Three days without water and when they found water it was bitter. “And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.” (Exodus 15:24,25 ESV)
Three days in the desert without water is no easy test. And then you find water, only to discover it is undrinkable. But the Lord not only “heals” the water, but just around the corner are twelve spring of fresh water. Often the plenteous supply is just around the corner from the place of disappointment.
The next complaint is about the lack of food. “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:2,3 ESV)
The Lord then supplies “angel’s food” – manna from heaven to sustain the Children of Israel for 4o years. Not only that he provided quail for them to eat.
As I review these complaints I am reminded the words of the Apostle Paul, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 ESV)
How easy it is to doubt God’s faithfulness and provision. We are tempted to believe God’s resources are exhausted. Within just a few chapters we see the Children of Israel twice complaining about the need for water. That is certainly a vital need in a desert, but it was not news to Moses or the Lord.
At the heart of all this, we see a giving in to fear, doubt, discouragement and despair. Instead the Lord calls us to trust in Him. We need to remember that the Lord knows our needs and to know that He will deliver, provide and intervene for us.
Prayer for today… Lord, help us not to complain when hardships come. Help us to stay strong in our faith and to rely on Your love and faithfulness to provide what we need, when we need it. May we remember the “journey” with You is far better then living in the chains of slavery to sin.