The children of Israel have so much to teach us. Sometimes I think God allowed them to go through tests just so we could see what they did and not do it! They had to learn everything on "field trips" with God. We have the opportunity to learn from the "book" as opposed to going on the "field trip". Unfortunately, many times I have chosen the field trip instead. Funny, they were not as fun as I thought they would be.
We find the Israelites in the desert searching for water. They had walked for three days without water so they were very thirsty. They did have the right to voice their need, but the Bible says they "grumbled against Moses". "Grumbling" is not the same as just saying "I'm thirsty". Grumbling is when we voice our need as a complaint against someone else. We are blaming them for what is happening in our lives. This is what the Israelites were doing. They were blaming Moses for their lack of water.
In this passage, we see that God supplies all there needs and so we would think that a few days later when they were in this position again that they would react differently. Let see. Read Exodus 17:1-7.
Almost the same test as before and the Israelites failed again. They again grumbled against Moses again or so they thought. What they did not realize was that God is sovreign over all circumstances. He had brought them there. There was no water there (yet) because that was His choice for them. Their complaint was really not with Moses, but with God. Moses had not brought them out of Egypt, God had. The same is true for us. When we complain about an aspect of our lives, we are complaining about God's ordering of our lives whether we can admit that or not.
We must recognize from this passage that God is not pleased or honored in complaining. Complaining and whining is in fact a sin. Do you see any of these aspects in your own life today? Can you accept that your circumstances are from God and can be used by God for His glory? If God shows us that we have a "grumbling" spirit, let us confess that as sin and repent today. Then ask Him to help us see when this is rising up in us again so we can turn from it immediately.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
Philippians 2:13-15
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