Just like us, the ancient Israelites fell to THE TEMPTATION TO GRUMBLE ABOUT THERE CIRCUMSTANCES. Grumbling and complaining about our circumstance, I believe, destroys our confidence and spirit. It is a great tool that the great deceiver, Satan, the fallen angel, uses to destroy us!
1 Corinthians 10:10 (TNIV)
And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel.
How often, especially in the face of struggles, trials, and trouble in our lives, do we just sit and complain rather than doing something about our condition! How often are we unhappy with the provision in our lives and simply grumble because we want more?
In the desert, God provided His people food and drink as they were led out of their bondage. Yet, they continued to grumble and were never satisfied! It took 40 years for them to reach that Promised Land. They not only gave into the temptations of testing God, of lusting and put their faith in the wrong things for their fulfillment in life….they grumbled about their condition, though God provided food and water the whole way (Manna from heaven, quail for meat and water from the rock!).
In the deserts of our lives, as we search for the promised land….that place of fulfillment and peace in our life…what is keeping us back? What is keeping us from reaching that Promised Land? Could it be the same temptations? Do we grumble because we don’t have what WE want…..though God is providing for us each and every step of the way?
— Do we have a job…. but we grumble because it’s not what WE want it to be? ….though it provides for our family.
— Do we have friends…..but we grumble because they are not what WE want them to be? ….though they would be there if we are in need.
— Do we have family….but we grumble because they are not what WE want them to be? ….though in our deepest times of need…..they are there……they are there with us in our struggles that surround our lives.
— Do we have possessions more than what we really need in life…….but we grumble because WE don’t have enough? …..because we feel that just a little more would make us feel fulfilled.
In all these things, notice that it is all about what WE want. As we love God and seek what HE wants in our lives….peace and ultimate fulfillment, as we serve others in love and kindness…..I find that WE end up receiving what WE really want in life…..peace and ultimate fulfillment. That’s part of the truth upside down. The key is….its truth! God provides! God is good…all the time!
These are not the only temptations, but they are all still among us today. There are so many! The key is for us to focus on Jesus, to focus on God in our lives and to focus on loving other people. On Friday we will start looking at fighting temptation…so we can become victorious over it!
This was exactly what I needed to be reminded of during this season of discontent in my life. I have been praying for God to lead us to where he wants us to go with our jobs and family. His silence is seemingly His answer. So we wait and try to be patient with difficult job circumstances. But walking in His will is what we ultimately want, so we wait for His direction and rejoice in knowing that He knows what is best for our family!! Thank you, Pastor Jan!
Praying for both you nad your family Traci. Know that you have a church family that also loves you and is praying. God bless 🙂