A GRATEFUL PEOPLE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them." Numbers 11:1-3

The Israelite people had been traveling for just three days from their camp near Mount Sinai when it started. And it wasn’t the first time.

What started? Verse 1 in Chapter 11 tells us:

"Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord…"

Scripture states that the Israelite people didn’t waste too much time in beginning to complain before the Lord…the same Lord who had delivered them from Egypt by parting the Red Sea and vanquishing Pharoah and his army….the same Lord who brought them manna from heaven and quail and water from a rock…the same God who had blessed them with a covenant promise to lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey. How soon the people of Israel forgot just how good God was to them. And this did not sit well with Him.

For we read where the Lord’s anger became aroused when He heard His people’s complaints that He sent fire that "burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp." Can you imagine this scene? The people are standing around complaining when all of a sudden, fire descends from the heavens and burns all around where they are. There’s no doubt that God was trying to get His people’s attention and send a message that He was not happy with them. There’s also no doubt that He showed great mercy unto His people despite their sinful behavior. For He could have killed any or all of them with the fire. Instead, He chose to show His wrath by burning around their perimeter…a heavenly shot across the bow if you may.

Well, the Israelites responded as you might expect. Our passage says that they "cried out to Moses" most assuredly to speak to God on their behalf and ask for His forgiveness and mercy. They surely didn’t realize that He had already shown them mercy by not destroying them on the spot.

We read where Moses prays unto the Lord and "the fire died down". The people had been spared…at least this time.

At the heart of this scripture is the matter of complaining. Whining, dissatisfaction, never being satisfied or never being content, also fall into this general category. It seems we, like Israel, have a short memory when it comes to all that God has done for us. It’s easy to praise God when everything is going our way but let some trial come upon us and we’re too often ready to start belly-aching about our misfortune.

Lamentations, Chapter 3 offers a great set of verses to address this problem. The writer asks:

"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:38-40

As we read this verse, we realize that we shouldn’t expect to not undergo hardship in our lives because at the very core, we are sinners, consistently living and acting in ways that dishonor the very One we should be glorifying. Yet, we expect Him to completely honor us with all things and when we don’t get them…well, we start whining and complaining. God expects better from us.
Consider this from Paul in his letter to the Philippian church:

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." Philippians 2:14-15

Paul also says that we should rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4) There’s no prerequisite there like rejoice in the Lord when all is going well in your life. No, Paul says rejoice…always. Not just some of the time…all of the time.

Paul also had these things to say about experiencing misfortunes in life…all of which support Philippians 4:4:

"…we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:2-5

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:17-18

These powerful words of scripture don’t encourage one to begin whining when things begin to go wrong in life. Instead, they encourage us to see the blessings that come in our trials…to open our eyes to how God reveals His awesome purpose and will for us through the way He molds and shapes us into the people He wants us to be. And that isn’t a complaining people. He wants us to be a grateful people.

Question: How do you respond to the times when your life might become challenging? Do you whine and complain about your circumstance? Or do you come before the Lord and praise Him for all He has done and all He is yet to do in and through you…even during the midst of a trial?

I’ll close today with lyrics to a great song by one of my favorite Christian husband and wife music duos, Watermark. The song is appropriately titled, "Grateful People", and I pray we might all live out the words in our hearts and minds.

It is time that we give you honor
This is the day to give you
All the praise that you deserve

A Holy King, of everything
Inhabit the praises of Your people

Have we waited far too long to surrender
Forgive us Oh God the years
We failed to seek your face
Oh Lord, your mercy turns us into
Grateful people
We can't seem to find the words
So take our lives that there might be enough
To tell you how grateful
Lord, we are grateful

Indeed, Lord…make us a grateful people. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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