365 Reflections

Numbers 11 starts the long list of moments Israel has with God wherein they question His ways, complain about His provision, and outright misrepresent the facts. First, there is the very brief account of grumbling in the camp: Numbers 11:1–3 (ESV) And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. 3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them. From this moment, another grumbling erupts soon after: Numbers 11:4–6 (ESV) Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic....

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ( Philippians 2:14, 15 ESV ) It's easy to hear, and easy to read, and easy to say but it's another thing to do this verse. But we cannot help thing of how grumbling is what's kept the Israelites out of the Promised land in the Old Testament. Grumbling is serious. It's not even a physical sin. It's a verbal sin. It's funny how different we measure sins from how God measures sins.  I looked up the antonym of grumble online.  The answer was: "silence."  What's your complaint? Is God taking too long? Is God not answering your prayers the way you'd like? Is He letting life happen in a way you'd want changed? Think of how stupid that is.  He is God.  And you are His child.  He is a good Father.  A better Father than human fathers.  I t...