The book of Numbers is written by Moses. Moses is the man that God chose to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into the promised land. Chapter 11:1-35 tells us how the Lord burned with anger, due to the discontentment and complaining of the people. How the people forgot the Lord's faithfulness towards them. How Moses felt the weight of the peoples' complaints and became overwhelmed. It had been a little over two years since the Lord parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22) so the Israelites could start their journey to the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. In chapter 11, they are still traveling through the desert and getting closer to the promised land. The Lord provided a cloud by day and a fire by night, so they knew when to go and when to stop. As they approached a new area, the foreigners who were traveling with the Israelites started complaining about the lack of meat and other foods they used to eat. They started to crave other foods such as: fish, melons, leeks, onion and garlic they used to eat while in Egypt. The Lord became angry at their complaining and whining that he burned the outskirts of their camp and many people died (The area was then named Taberah, which means “Burning”) This is not the first time the people have complained about their provisions.
Take a look at Exodus 16:3 and 17:3. The Lord faithfully provided food and water, even with the groaning and comparison the people made to their enslaved lives in Egypt. Moses told the people to remember that their complaints were against the Lord not him. Moses was frustrated and overwhelmed with the whining of the people. He began to lose faith that God could keep his promise with such disobedient people. Moses was burnt out, so the Lord delegated by placing the Holy Spirit on 70 elders to help carry out the responsibilities of leadership. There were over 600,000 people! That is a lot of people to lead. Soon after, the Lord gave the people so much quail to be able to eat, but before they could finish eating, he struck with a plague and took them out. The Lord was angry with how discontent and disobedient his people became. Where was their faith after he had provided over and over again?
After consuming this chapter, I got to thinking about what I do when I am discontent in any area of my life. Here are some questions to consider.
Where does discontentment come from?
Do you trust that God will meet your every need?
Is your disobedience tied to your discontentment?
Who or what do you run to when you are in this state of mind?
Hi Abba, it’s me again. I come to you with feelings that are not aligning with your word. Please help me to recall your faithfulness in my life. Show me what the true issue is. Forgive me for my disobedience towards you. I know that you have not left me or my circumstances. I know that you are here with me now. Help me to see gratitude daily. Cleanse my heart from desiring the things or the people of this world over you. Thank you for showing up and showing out for me every day. If there are any gaps that I have created between you and I, please remove them and give me the strength to let it go. Thank you for choosing me over and over, even though my focus shifts and I am a hot mess most days. Your provisions, spiritually, physically and mentally are top tier. I praise you and I thank you for your goodness towards me. You don’t have to, but you choose to because of your unfailing love towards me. In your mighty name, Jesus. Amen
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