Tag: grumble
Flying by instrument!
Scripture reading for February 14: Numbers 13-16
Walking by faith is not always easy to learn. We are prone to be strongly influenced by what we see, our feelings, and what our past experiences have conditioned us to believe. In my younger days, I wanted to learn to fly an airplane. Several of my friends and I got together and bought a Cessna 172 with instrument rating. I wanted to learn to fly by instruments so that weather and clouds would not cause me to crash. To help me learn to trust the instruments, my flight instructor would put a hood over my head so I could only see the instrument panel. When we would turn, or go up or down, I would watch the instruments to learn where the wings were. My mind, however, would often play tricks on me. I felt like we were flying sideways or going up or down, when the instruments said we were flying level. Senses can lead us astray in flying and in life!
The twelve Israelite spies were sent into the promised land. They were told to determine what the land was like and what the inhabitants of that land were like. God had already told them that the land was flowing with milk and honey. He had already told them that He would take care of the inhabitants. God was to them like the instruments in the plane. If they had kept their focus on what God had said, they would not have veered off course! Joshua and Caleb were the only spies to stay focused! They pleaded with the others to get ready to go on in and possess the land that God had promised them. (Numbers 13:30-33) Ten spies got their eyes on the difficulties and began to spread fear, doubt and unbelief!
The whole community began to complain and grumble against Moses and the Lord. They even talked of stoning Moses, when the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting. God viewed their grumbling and rebellion against Moses as against Him! (Numbers 14:11, 27) God’s judgment on them was to give them what they had feared–the whole generation 20 years and older died in the desert because of their grumbling and unbelief! They all would wander in the wilderness for 40 years as punishment for their rebellion! (Numbers 14:29-35)
Do you remember a time when your feelings or a ‘bad’ report caused you to live in fear? How does God’s punishment of Israel fit their sin of unbelief?
Patience required!
Scripture reading for October 9th: Jeremiah 37, 21, 34, Psalm 79, James 5
Key Scriptures: James 5:7-9 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”
The Church of Jesus Christ needs patience! Jesus has promised His return for His Church and judgment for the wicked. The Church can be confident that He will come again but the time of this great event is left unknown to believers. No one knows the day or the hour! James uses farmers as an example of patience. They plant the crop and must wait through a whole growing season for the precious fruit to come forth. This requires early rains to get it started and late rains to fill the harvest and mature the fruit. Grumbling about the lack of rain is not faith! We must establish our hearts on God’s faithfulness and truth!
Psalm 79:13 “But we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation will will recount Your praise.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great patience with me and with the rebellious of this world. Help me to show Your patience to others and not grumble. I know the Judge is coming soon!
Jeremiah 21:14 “I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the Lord; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her.”