When you're walking with the Lord, do you ever feel like life can go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in 2.5 seconds? We often say that when things are going well you had better put your guard on because that's when Satan will attack or when the world will seem to turn on you. I can promise you this, if you're doing nothing to bother the devil, if your love for God is cold, if your service to the Lord is non-existent, if you're not reaching out to share the gospel, if your affections for the disciplines of our faith are on the back burner, then more than likely Satan will do nothing to bother you. But if you are out on the front lines of God's Kingdom, leading the charge into hell to win souls and follow Christ, then you better believe our enemy will throw some road blocks in your path.
It is amazing that in Exodus 15 we encounter the beautiful "Song of the Redeemed" people of Israel. In verse 21 Miraim, the sister of Moses, sings, "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." (ESV) Then the people followed Moses from the Red Sea into the wilderness for three days and found no water. So what did the people do? Have a prayer service? No. Sing a new song to the Lord? No. Entreat Moses to go before the Lord on their behalf? No. Verse 24 says, "And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?'" Moses calls out to God and God makes the water sweet via a log thrown into the water. Go figure.
Then the Lord says, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer." That's quite a promise. In other words the Lord tells the people to trust Him and He will provide for them and not "dis-ease" them as He did when He plagued Egypt those 10 times.
But look what happens in chapter 16, verse 2; the people once again grumble against Moses, this time for food, complaining even to the point that they would rather have died in Egypt as satisfied slaves than in the wilderness as hungry free people. God heard their grumbling and yet again provided for them the bread from heaven. They were to gather the bread for 6 days, and on the sixth day they were to gather enough for the seventh, sabbath (rest) day. They were only to keep the bread overnight on the sixth day, so they could rest on the seventh. Of course, they broke both commands. Good grief!
I can only imagine how Moses must have felt, but I can sympathize with him a bit. At times it seems the least little thing will set people to grumbling. Complaint seems to be the common denominator to many. But what is grumbling? What does complaining say to God? Grumbling is the opposite of thanksgiving and complaining says, "I do not trust you God. Either you're not able to care for me, or you do not care for me at all." Now none of us would say those words to God, but when we complain that is exactly what we're saying.
Not to be overly simplistic, but what should we do when things aren't going well, when perhaps we are thirsty and hungry? Answer: trust God. What should we do when people are complaining about us? Answer: trust God. If complaining is a failure to trust God then faith is trust in action.
Let us pursue faith, trust, and hope in God. He does care, and He is able to care for us.
It is true that as we walk closer with God the enemy charges his very best to deter us, to discourage us, and to harm us. And sometimes to entice us, just to get us off track. But just as the Lord Jesus modeled, we need to make time with God who replenishes our strength and faith to go on. Just like you said Pastor Keith-trust God.
ReplyDeleteIt is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Our faith in our faithful, loving, merciful Father will strenghten our stride and carry us through until we cross the finish line.