Along with thinking about what the Holy Spirit of God has done in my life and wanting to write about it, which is why I wrote the previous post on my thumb being healed, I’ve been thinking about how the Bible is alive and at work in my everyday life.
It’s been cold here, really cold. Like not above zero for days on end and there have been lots of disruptions because of plunging wind chills and snowstorms. It’s getting old. So is my job. It’s more stressful than it’s ever been, with more demands than time. Yuck. I plot escape routes in my head, mainly about how to spend less, invest more, get debt paid off and then to walk away from it all. But no end in the immediate sight.
Then I was reading in Psalm 78, where God reminds them of all of things He did for the Jews. He performed wonders, divide d the Red Sea, led them with a cloud and fire, split rocks in the wilderness and caused streams to flow. What did the Israelites do in response? They grumbled! They didn’t say ‘thank you.’ They just kept asking for something different, something more or threatening to revert, retreat and head back to Egypt.
Verses 17-20 tells us that God didn’t pat them on the back and provide a counseling group or a pity party. No, He viewed it as sinning against Him, rebelling and testing God in their hearts by demanding the food they craved. When they complained, they spoke against God. Did God ignore it because they were in a pinch? NO. When God heard He was full of wrath because they did not believe in Him or trust in His saving power.
Gulp. Am I sinning, rebelling, testing and speaking against God, not believing in His goodness, His provisions of a job and weather at His bidding, and not trusting in His sufficient grace? Am I not thankful for my warm house, awesome husband, reliable car, good job and lots of good people around me? Do I provoke God’s wrath?
Forgive me God for being a whiner. Give me a thankful heart that is filled with Your joy that overflows.
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