In my last devotional, I mentioned how we should trust that God will take care of the attitudes of other people (rather than take it into our own hands, like Moses did). So, in case you didn't believe me, here is a story from the next chapter where God deals with the continual complaining of the Israelites.
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Have you ever heard a parent say, "Stop complaining or I'll give you something to complain about!"? Essentially this is what God did! The Israelites were so consumed with impatience, complaining, comparing and negativity that God got fed up. It was clear that these people lacked a trust in God and in their leader.
God had given them plenty of opportunity to repent and change their attitudes, unfortunately, they were those type of people (you know the type...maybe you're one of them...I am sometimes!) who must learn things the hard way. God sent snakes to show them how bad things really could be. Gasp! God can send a trial to redirect you or your attitude? Yes! Just look a the life of Jonah!
The Israelites repented swiftly, they recognized their sin against God and against Moses and their hearts changed.
We have much to be thankful for, but if we spend our time focused on the things we don't have or that aren't perfect we can become like the Israelites; complaining, whining, grumbling, negative, impatient, and tearing others down. I don't want God to have to say to me, "Stop complaining or I'll give you something to complain about!" Perhaps in order for your prayers to be aswered, God needs to teach you contentment first. If you complain about the things you already have, why would God give you more to complain about?
What about you? Does it take some snakes in your life for God to get your attention?
0 comments:
Post a Comment