Garry spoke tonight about the complaining and grumbling of the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings (see Ex 15:24, Ex 16, Numbers 14). They were so miserable they declared they wanted to die in the desert and could only complain about God’s miraculous provision of manna and quail, longing for the melons, cucumbers, onions and garlic of Egypt (conveniently forgetting their misery as slaves there.) So often, we look back on the past with rose-tinted spectacles, forgetting what God has done for us. In leaving Egypt, God blessed His people not only with a miraculous deliverance but with plunder from Egypt (gold, silver and clothing); nonetheless, they were only full of complaints (‘it was better when…’/ ‘it could be better if…’)
Ps 73 reflects a similarly limited viewpoint as the psalmist sees the arrogant and wicked and envies them, not understanding the full picture until he comes into the sanctuary and sees things from God’s point of view. So often, our understanding is limited, based on an aversion to pain or difficulty. The butterfly has to struggle to break through the chrysalis, however; there is sometimes a need to press on beyond the pain barrier in order to reach the final goal (see Heb 12:1-3).
Everything we go through in life has the potential to make us better – but it can make us bitter. We need faith to trust that God will always take us the best way, even if it is not the easiest. Phil 4:12-13 and 1 Tim 6;6 have much to say about contentment, and we need to learn to be content with God’s way for us. He is good and always does what is right. Whether we believe that or not will determine the end result – growth or grumbling. The choice is ours.
The children got to play in tents and hunt for manna and quail as well!
