I've been reading Exodus recently and I came across something this morning that really convicted me. I've been wrong. I've been sinful. I've been foolish to complain and grumble about people, situations, environments...you name it and I've probably sinfully grumbled about it before and perhaps still do. Let's take a look at the passage and see if I can explain what I mean.
The Israelites have crossed over the Red Sea at this point and they are in the wilderness and hungry. They are complaining to Moses and Aaron that they have led them into the wilderness to starve and die. Here is how Moses and Aaron respond:
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily." So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, beacuse He has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?" And Moses said, "When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against Him--what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord."
Exodus 16:4-8
Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord. There are two things that I want to point out from this. First of all, how liberating it must have been for Moses and Aaron to conclude that the people of Israel were in fact grumbling against God and not them! Imagine if they concluded that they were responsible for the entirety of Israel's exodus and needed to somehow feed thousands of people! Impossible! But how often do we do something similar when we allow others to manipulate us into doing what they want us to do because we think that we are responsible for their mood or their well-being?! I'm guilty.
Now for the second observation, how often are we like Israel and grumble about other people or situations and fail to realize that we are actually grumbling against God? Is there ever a time that we endure anything or know anyone in which God does not want it to be for our good? Romans 8:28 answers that with a resounding NO! Indeed, all things work together for the good of those who love God. All relationships, all circumstances, all trials, all headaches, all failed efforts...EVERYTHING.
So since that is the case, what happens when we grumble? We are grumbling against God regarding something that He meant for our good! Yikes. Guilty again. I guess for me the scariest part is even when knowing this to be the case and never grumbling out loud, my heart still will grumble on demanding that things be different. My heart's grumblings are enough to deserve God's wrath because of the truth that all things will work together for my good because God loves me.
So it leaves me saddened by my sinfulness and yet in love with Christ and His righteousness that gives me life in spite of my grumblings. There is no one but Christ who offers something so outrageously great, and I am humbled that He wants to know me and share life with me. I just want to follow Him as best as I can.
I'll leave with the words of the Apostle Paul. When I led a study through Philippians, these verses always perplexed me. Now after reading Exodus 16, they seem to make a bit more sense.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16
God, Help expose the grumblings of my heart and make me blameless and innocent through Jesus Christ that I may shine as a light in the midst of this dark world. All for your glory. Amen.
The Israelites have crossed over the Red Sea at this point and they are in the wilderness and hungry. They are complaining to Moses and Aaron that they have led them into the wilderness to starve and die. Here is how Moses and Aaron respond:
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily." So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, beacuse He has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?" And Moses said, "When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against Him--what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord."
Exodus 16:4-8
Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord. There are two things that I want to point out from this. First of all, how liberating it must have been for Moses and Aaron to conclude that the people of Israel were in fact grumbling against God and not them! Imagine if they concluded that they were responsible for the entirety of Israel's exodus and needed to somehow feed thousands of people! Impossible! But how often do we do something similar when we allow others to manipulate us into doing what they want us to do because we think that we are responsible for their mood or their well-being?! I'm guilty.
Now for the second observation, how often are we like Israel and grumble about other people or situations and fail to realize that we are actually grumbling against God? Is there ever a time that we endure anything or know anyone in which God does not want it to be for our good? Romans 8:28 answers that with a resounding NO! Indeed, all things work together for the good of those who love God. All relationships, all circumstances, all trials, all headaches, all failed efforts...EVERYTHING.
So since that is the case, what happens when we grumble? We are grumbling against God regarding something that He meant for our good! Yikes. Guilty again. I guess for me the scariest part is even when knowing this to be the case and never grumbling out loud, my heart still will grumble on demanding that things be different. My heart's grumblings are enough to deserve God's wrath because of the truth that all things will work together for my good because God loves me.
So it leaves me saddened by my sinfulness and yet in love with Christ and His righteousness that gives me life in spite of my grumblings. There is no one but Christ who offers something so outrageously great, and I am humbled that He wants to know me and share life with me. I just want to follow Him as best as I can.
I'll leave with the words of the Apostle Paul. When I led a study through Philippians, these verses always perplexed me. Now after reading Exodus 16, they seem to make a bit more sense.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16
God, Help expose the grumblings of my heart and make me blameless and innocent through Jesus Christ that I may shine as a light in the midst of this dark world. All for your glory. Amen.
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