Greetings,
Right at the beginning of the Bible in the book of Exodus, God says, "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out, and I am concerned about their suffering. I have come to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them into a good and spacious land, a Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey." Charlton Heston's movie, The 10 Commandments, does a pretty good job depicting this epic struggle where God sent 10 plagues to convince the Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh finally releases them only to change his mind and chase after them. He catches up to them and the Israelites are faced with an impossible situation: Pharaoh and his 600 chariots are behind them, and the daunting Red Sea is in front.
Exodus 14:10-14, "As Pharaoh approached the Israelites were terrified...They said to Moses, their leader, 'What have you done by bringing us out of Egypt...? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!' Moses answered, 'Do not be afraid...You will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...the Lord will fight for you.'"
{At this point it is so easy for me to get judgmental. Really, Israelites? God has already sent 10 miraculous plagues, like the swarm of locusts that literally ate every tree in the land, and turned all the water into blood, and you still doubt? How can you think He would bring you so far only to abandon you?}
In fact, God does not abandon any of His children, so He supernaturally parts the Red Sea. Every single Israelite crosses on dry ground. Pharaoh's foolish army tries to pursue them only to drown as the Red Sea comes crashing down upon them.
The Israelites sing a happy song of deliverance - see Exodus chapter 15 for one of the most inspiring and beautiful passages ever written. And that's the end of story! I love Happy endings!
Oh wait. Not really. That was not the end but the beginning of a 40-year journey marred by grumbling, complaining, and murmuring.
One chapter later in Exodus 16 the unrelenting griping starts. "We need food, we need water... better that we were still in Egypt...you brought us out here to starve..."
{I find myself getting judgy again. God has done so much already, why do they doubt?}
Suffice to say that God, once again, supernaturally provides for all the needs of His children. But there is a harsh consequence to their whining.
Deuteronomy 1:2 "Normally, it takes only 11 days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir."
Let that sink in: An 11-day journey turned into 40 years of wandering out in the desert.
Talk about going around in circles. I once paid attention to a GPS in a rental car that had me turning left to get to the airport when it should have been a right turn. I went around in frustrating circles for 15 long minutes before I willed myself to ignore the GPS. I thought I would go nuts, and yet the Israelites did if for 40 agonizing years! They should have arrived to the Promised Land, to the better place, to the place where they were meant to be, but complaining, which led to a lack of gratitude, which led to disobedience, kept them from arriving to the place they were destined for.
And now I must examine my own heart and you must examine yours.
All along it has been easy for me to finger point at the Israelites because of their lack of faith and critical attitude. And yet, have I been faithful 100% of the time? Never doubting? Always sure God would show up with power when I needed it? Sure He would provide for all my needs? Trusting His timing for getting me where I need to go? Never acting like I know more than Him and His plans? Never ever once grumbling, complaining, or murmuring...?
Ouch!
If any of us is feeling stuck, like we are missing out on our destiny, like there has to be more to life, then let's make sure it's not because we are complaining and accusing God of not being there for us. Let's not derail something good that God has in store for us by being so busy being so upset that we miss the opportunity to connect with Him, which strengthens our faith to get us where we were meant to be.
PRAYER: Dear God, Sometimes we complain, and we get so focused on what is wrong with our lives that we fail to see Your faithfulness. We are quick to gripe about all the troubles, when we could be thanking You for all the good in our lives. No matter how hard things might be right now, each of us has plenty of blessings to be thankful for. Forgive us for this attitude, which weakens our faith and keeps us from moving forward. The Bible makes it clear that appreciating and praising You is the key to entering the Promised Land. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
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