I'm reading through the book of Numbers right now, (yea, I know...it's kind of hard), but I came to chapter 14 today. It's the story about Moses sending the 12 spys into the promised land to check things out and bring back a report. 10 of them came back saying there's no way they could conquer the land. They reported that it was filled with warlike people and giants. 2 of them spoke about the bounty of the land 'a land flowing with milk and honey' and they declared they could easily conquer it with God's help. But the people of Israel only heard the bad report and cried out in protest to Moses, complaining and whining and saying "If only we had died in Egypt or here in the wilderness. . . Let's choose a new leader and go back to Egypt". Remember these are the same people who saw the Red Sea part, who walked through on dry land, who everyday watched the pillar of smoke and fire escort them through the wilderness, who saw water come out of a rock and food fall from the sky for them. God had proved himself over and over and over and still they did not believe Him. Then when they gathered up rocks to stone the 2 men who gave a good report, Joshua and Caleb, God intervened and declared to the people of Israel "I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will drop dead in this wilderness because you complained against me." And that's exactly what happened. No one under 20 years old at that time entered the promised land. They all died wandering around the wilderness. They never entered the abundance God had ordained for them.
This passage really made me think about what comes out of my mouth. When some obstacle comes into my path, do I complain about it? Do I grumble and lose faith? Or do I remember all the other times God has worked everything out for my good? I, for one, want to have that abundant life God planned for me. I'm not talking about riches. I'm not talking about a problem free life. I'm talking about purpose, destiny, joy and peace and fulfillment like you've never known. I believe many Christians today never fulfil God's plan for their lives. And why? Because of complaining. and what is complaining? In essence, it is unbelief.
Be careful what you complain about. You may get exactly what you say.
Ooooh great point, ML - complaining =unbelief. Youch. The other day I was struggling with a bad mood about my health. I decided to take my thankful pills and wrote several pages in my journal of what I was thankful for. I was in tears by the end of it, of ALL the blessings I have and I was focusing on the one thing that was bad.
ReplyDeleteI think you are onto something here. The sense of entitlement we have brings discontentment, and therefore robs us of thte abudant life that Jesus died to give us.
"When the son of man returns will he find faith on the earth?"