Theme
·
”36 Now the men whom Moses sent to
spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against
him by bringing a bad report of the land,37 those very men who brought the evil
report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD.” – Numbers 14:36-37
·
“But know this, that in the last
days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having
a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
– 2 Tim 3:1-5
Not
wishing to appear insensitive with this post please understand, this is primarily
a post about anyone who may have a chronic ‘complaining’ spirit. One who seems ‘unthankful’
in such a way that others who know them would use such terms as complainer as a
descriptor of the person’s personality. There are times in everyone’s life when
a little belly aching happens. Those times we need only be reminded of the
blessings we have, and we snap out of our doldrums.
Let’s
look at an episode in the Bible where chronic complaining is the lead story. We
join the story of the people’s exodus from slavery in Egypt to freedom under
GOD’s miraculous care. Notice if you will through the first couple of years many
of those miraculously freed engaged in a chronic complaining spirit which had
unintended consequences to those habitually complaining souls some of whom died
in the wilderness never seeing the promised land.
·
The
Exodus and the Promised Land. Let’s just look at human nature and
how little it has changed in all the eons of time.
·
The core group of persons being delivered out of
captivity from Egypt were the myriad of Hebrews who had been invited to come
and live in Egypt in the persons of Jacob and his sons and their respective families.
Over time they became captive as a citizenry for over four centuries. They
wound up so put upon they were treated as slaves with seriously harsh task
masters. One Jew in particular, Moses, raised by the Egyptian royal family from
infancy, had learned and lived the opulent lifestyle of the Palatial family. At
some point in his adult life he decided to reunite with his people, the Hebrews.
The Bible says that Moses saw a particularly bullish taskmaster abusing one of
the Hebrew slaves and Moses stepped in to intercede killing the taskmaster. Moses
then buried the taskmaster. Seems no good deed goes unpunished for the next day
he saw two Jews fighting and asked them why. The two Jews became sarcastic with
Moses asking who made him ruler over them. Knowing he was in danger from the
Pharaoh he left and moved to the desert, found a wife, had kids, had a
shepherding business and lived congenially with his in laws four decades before
his GOD drops into his life again and literally stops him in his steps even telling
him to remove his sandals.
·
What got his attention? A bush afire but
not burning up and the voice of GOD Almighty. The instructions that he received
that day put him on the fast track to shepherding people, not sheep, from the
place where he knew he was wanted for killing an Egyptian, even if it was 40
years after the fact. Why had GOD called Moses at that moment? Because, back in
Egypt the Hebrews were so oppressed, they began to cry to GOD for help and HE
heard their cries and responded.
·
This same people then live through the ten
plagues, last of which was Passover – thereafter the Pharaoh orders them to
leave Egypt – the Hebrews live through wild escape from Egypt via the Red Sea
bottom with walls of water being miraculously held in place as each one of the
fleeing Hebrews made their way across the Seabed. As they reached the other
side, with the Egyptians on their tails dashing right onto the Seabed they witnessed
the conclusion of the Red Sea miracle as water falls in on top of the Egyptians
killing all those on the Seabed while the rescued Hebrews look on from the
other side.
Stop for a
moment and think about this: 10 plagues of various kinds have just adversely
affected the Egyptians—they knew the power of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, the GOD with a name – Pharaoh demands the Hebrews leave Egypt then he decides
to chase the Hebrews to the Red Sea. There they see the Hebrews fleeing into the
parted waters of the Red Sea. Instead of stopping and saying WAIT…should we
pursue them ONTO THE MIRACULOUSLY DRY SEABED they charge right in. Really?
·
Would your salvation under such miraculous circumstances
not cause you to pause and reassess yourself? Would you complain or pray?
·
Would you
not reflect on the behavior of the Egyptians – their fight with GOD Almighty?
No one living then actually knew firsthand what
life was for the descendants of Abraham and Isaac before Jacob and his sons all
decided to accept his youngest son’s offer to come and live in Egypt where
there was food, where life would not be so difficult. Because Joseph, Jacob’s youngest
son, held responsible jobs with the Egyptian government he could assist the
relocation of his kinfolk. They lived and were fruitful for a long time before
the change of leadership in Egypt became threatened at the birthrate and ever-growing
population of Hebrews filling the land as it were with non-Egyptians.
For those on the rescued side of the Red Sea, former
slaves with a slave world view, who lived as a segregated people in Egypt, they
had no sense of freedom. They were quite dependent on their slave owners for life’s
needs. Imagine, right after you landed on the other side of the Red Sea and had
a moment to catch your breath looking around realizing you were not in Kansas
anymore?!
Let’s stop for a moment and take stock of what
had just transpired.
·
They cried to GOD for deliverance
·
GOD delivered them. First from Egypt then from
the Red Sea
·
They personally witnessed the 10 plagues
including the biggest and most important one, the Passover.
·
Now, the Egyptians are dead, drowned in the Red
Sea. They stand on the other side, safe, delivered, free thanks to GOD. But
were they? Would you be? Would you complain or pray?
Six weeks into their new freed lives they begin to complain. They
have spent their entire lives with a rugged routine of slavery. Now, they were
free. But they had no home, no way to garden, grow food sources. Barter for
things they needed. They were in the wilderness escaping there with only what
they could get together quickly prior to departing Egypt. Each person was one
of multitudes and their leader was someone likely only known to most of them
from the whole 10 plagues thing.
·
Their current lack begins to become their focus.
Ask yourself:
o
Query: If GOD could manifest 10 plagues, most of
which had no effect on them directly
o
If GOD could deliver them from the Passover
angel
o
If GOD could cause Pharaoh to demand they leave
Egypt
o
If GOD could deliver them through the Red Sea
o
Would you, given those miraculous parameters,
begin to complain because there was no sight of water or food to feed such a
crowd? But wait, 3 days into the wilderness, they did find water, but it was
bitter. Moses called out to GOD and GOD miraculously changed the bitter water
to sweet drinkable water.
Or, would you complain as they did not too long
after this: “on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from
the land of Egypt. 2 Then the whole congregation of the children of
Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 And
the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand
of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of
meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us
out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” – Ex 16:1b-3
You have a choice, complain or pray waiting on
GOD in faith for HE has demonstrated HIS miraculous saving powers all along for
you. Now, think hard.
I offer you another scenario to contemplate: If
we could stop right now and just put ourselves into the similar scenario. Many
people experience this every year with devastating weather events like
Tornadoes and Hurricanes or forest fires ignited from lightening that spread
through tender pushed along its fuel rich path by strong winds -- or natural
phenomena like tsunami waves, earthquakes, volcanic eruption. They lose nearly
everything, having only what they could carry out of their homes as they fled
the danger and wind up in strange new circumstances, no routine, no idea what
the next day will bring and fully dependent on strangers taking lead in their
lives. Only you know how you would respond. Granted, the number of miracles and
the spectrum of miracles may not rise to those of the Hebrews, but the miracle
of escape from your disaster must have some defining impression on your life?
Complaining seems a ‘natural’ inclination of
anyone who is not in their familiar lives. It has been the same since
the Exodus. However, human nature causes you to recreate what is familiar and a
routine with what you have where you are. Or as the saying goes ‘make the best
of the circumstances’. Like the Hebrews, now nomads -- all of a sudden --wandering
in the wilderness for who knows how long there may be challenge to anyone whose
lives have been disrupted from a settled lifestyle. But, GOD! Our focus can be
derailed from prayerful reliance and faith in GOD when faced with life changing
circumstance.
Yet another awesome experience happened to Hebrews.
Wonder how you and I would have reacted if we were present? So, in Chapter 19
of Exodus, the setting is Mt. Sinai. Present: GOD, Moses and all the people.
This is what they saw and heard: “16 Then it came to
pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the
mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people
who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses
brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot
of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely
in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its
smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain
quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the
trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke,
and God answered him by voice. 20 Then
the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And
the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.”
– Ex 19:16-20
·
This is how they responded; again, ask yourself,
how would you? “18 Now all the
people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the
trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they
trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will
hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” “20 And
Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you,
and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So
the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where
God was.” – Ex 20:18-20
·
In between their standing there and their
becoming afraid, the 10 commandments were given to them.
·
That’s what they did. And you? How would you behave?
Be honest. Be in their shoes using a modern-day example like that of a natural
disaster.
This is
what they decided: After the whole supernatural experience with
Mt. Sinai, the folks decided it was best for Moses to be their intermediary
with GOD. You? Complain or pray?
You have the Lord as your intermediary and the
Holy Spirit as your advocate. But, do you turn to GOD or complain. Be honest. You
aren’t being grilled where your responses would appear here for others to see
and respond to but if you believe in an AlMighty GOD you know HE knows how you
answer and if it is true or not. This is an opportunity to be introspective and
honest. Complain or pray?
Pausing for a bit, lets once again recap what GOD
has already done:
·
They cried to GOD for deliverance
·
GOD delivered them. First from Egypt then from
the Red Sea
·
They personally witnessed the 10 plagues
including the biggest and most important one, the Passover.
·
Now, the Egyptians are dead, drowned in the Red
Sea. They stand on the other side, safe, delivered, free thanks to GOD. But
were they? Would you be?
·
GOD changed bitter water into sweet drinkable
water
·
GOD appeared in spectacular form atop Mt. Sinai
·
GOD gave them a set of rules to live by
·
It was 2 months into their changed lives and by
miracles of GOD they were still alive
·
GOD gave Moses the template for a new place of
worship for them. It was mobile
·
GOD placed a cloud over the top of the place of
worship when HE wanted them to hang out for a bit and moved it away when HE
wanted them to continue in their journey
·
GOD provided a luscious fruit and vegetable filled
place called the Promised Land for them to move into and live in.
Recap:
It appears from the Bible at the outset, as you read through Exodus, they were
a complaining people. They did not like their situation. They complained to GOD
about their living situation while captive in Egypt and then complained they had it better back in Egypt. They were lost when
Moses went up Mt. Sinai and so they began to pick leaders and collectively
thought it wise to melt gold and form a golden calf for worship ala their
former lives in Egypt.
Again, put yourself in their situation. Considering
everything written, how do you think you would react? Complain or Pray?
Would you not at some point seeing the compendium
of miraculous occurrences, knowing GOD Almighty was your protector, would you
not decide to become most dependent on HIM? Seek HIM in prayer? Look for
direction from HIM in this new life HE brought you to? These seem like
legitimate questions and frankly in hindsight even reasonable conclusions. Yet,
these people came from a very different culture. Formerly, their needs were met
by permission of their overlords. Religious worship was not focused on ONE GOD.
There came a time in fact they had to be educated as to what GOD expected of
them and the first couple of rules of 10 commandments was exactly who GOD IS
and what GOD expects in the way of worship. “And God spoke all these
words, saying: 2 “I am the Lord your
God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before
Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved
image—any likeness of anything that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in
the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down
to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
to the third and fourth generations of those who hate
Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those
who love Me and keep My commandments.” – Ex 20:1-6
About 40 years after fleeing Egypt everything was
about to change. By now, the generation departing Egypt, those who were 20
years and older, except for Caleb and Joshua, had died. There is a whole new
generation who have been living this life as primarily their only life. A big
event is about to happen; the death of Moses. It is recorded in Deut 34 and the
reason he did not make it into the promised land in Numbers 20:12. However, no
matter what was tossed his way, including the discipline from GOD in Numbers
20:12, Moses himself was not a complainer. He was a GODly man of faith and
obedience and was recorded as being the only Prophet GOD spoke to face to face instead
of in dreams. – Numbers 12:6-8
Moses took his role seriously all the way to the
end. Notice what the Bible says about him: “Moses was one hundred and
twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural
vigor diminished.” – Deut 34:7 In other words, he was no doddering old man
too feeble to lead the folks down into the Promised Land. He was still vital at
the age of 120 years old and no doubt appreciated seeing the place his progeny
and people would inhabit with GOD’s help. He did not complain at all.
Here is a huge contrast to that of the freed Hebrews.
A pagan woman whose reputation was that of a harlot provided safety/sanctuary
to 2 spies sent into Jericho to do some early reconnaissance and to report back
to Joshua. The King sent an envoy to Rahab to inquire as to the whereabouts of
the two spies. She indulged in a little subterfuge giving them false info while
hiding the 2 spies up on her roof. Read how she negotiated her freedom from the
upcoming supernatural disaster at Jericho:
“Now before they lay down, she came up to them
on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has
given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all
the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For
we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you
when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the
Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom
you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these
things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in
anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God
in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg
you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that
you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true
token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my
sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So
the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business
of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we
will deal kindly and truly with you.” -- Joshua 2:8-14
A pagan she was convicted in faith of the GOD of
the Hebrews? Notice she is not complaining but is negotiating a pass into the
lives of those under the GOD of the Hebrews for she and her entire family? She
is asking to be uprooted, to be protected in safety through the miracle of
Jericho falling to the Joshua and his troops.
What a stark example of faith based on hope for
something she has not yet seen but is sure she wanted vs little to no faith
from the Hebrews who have been complaining for decades despite the visible,
practical, experiential lives that should have convicted the faith of the survivors
freed from Egypt
Bibles Designations
KJV – King James Version
NIV – New International Version
NWT – New World Translation
ASV -- American Standard Version
DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this
blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the
writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the
reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s
intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does.
“For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s
sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to
whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]
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