Grumbling against God

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In the book of Exodus we read how the Israelites were miraculously rescued by God from slavery with the Egyptians. Even though the Israelites witnessed plagues and judgement against the Egyptians, even though the Israelites walked on dry land through the Red Sea, saw the complete destruction of the Egyptian army, and even though God led the Israelites with a cloud by day and fire by night, and provided for their every need, they still grumbled and complained to Moses and Aaron.

Moses told them, your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord (Exodus 16:8).

Yikes!

Ray Pritchard wrote, “Do we understand that complaining is an attack on God’s sovereignty? Every time you complain about your circumstances, you are really saying, ‘If I were God, I would do things differently.’ The complainer has forgotten the first rule of the spiritual life: He’s God and we’re not.”

Oh my. How it must grieve the heart of God when we complain. After reading that verse and the quote by Ray, I found myself trying to be very careful, with my words and my thoughts.

Complaining and grumbling focuses on people, problems, and circumstances, instead of focusing on our almighty, loving God. There is more, much more, than what we can see with our eyes, hear with our ears, or even imagine. God is loving and good, He is always in control, He is sovereign over all, He knows the plans and the future, and all things work together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28).

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for complaining and grumbling. Thank You that You are sovereign and always in control. Thank You that there is a plan and purpose bigger, higher, and better than I can imagine. Please help me so that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart may be pleasing to You (Psalm 19:14).

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV).

Therefore, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” “Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and [questioning and doubting [among yourselves], That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world (1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 2:14-15, AMPC).

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Seeking

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Jesus turned to those following Him and asked, “What are you seeking?” And they asked, where are you staying? And Jesus replied, Come and see” (John 1:38-39).

What are you seeking from Jesus? “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6, NKJV). For, when we seek Him with all our hearts we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

What are you looking for? Is your soul hungry and thirsty? Come and see Jesus who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”(John 6:35, John 7:38, ESV)

Do you need to know the way? Come and see the One who is The Way, the Truth, and the Life. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV).

Are you seeking peace? Come and see the One who gives peace and Who is peace. Jesus invites, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27, NASB).

Are you desperate for light? Come and see the One who is light. Jesus is the light of the world. Whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Are you longing for comfort? Come to God and His Son, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, AMPC).

Whatever you are seeking, whatever you are looking for, you will find in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8, AMP).

“Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation continually say, ‘God is great!’” (Psalm 70:4, HCSB). “Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might]; seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.” (Psalm 105:4, AMP).

 

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