“The whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger…’
“So Moses and Aaron said to all the people, ‘At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us? When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord…’
“All the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages,.. and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ And Moses said, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’” Exodus 16:2-3,6-8; 17:1-2
The fickle Israelites had limited vision. Almost immediately after God’s amazing deliverance through the Red Sea they grumbled at the difficulties they faced. They failed to connect that this same God would continue to work miraculously for them as they exercised growing faith in Him. Concerned only with present comfort and immediate gratification, they complained, whined, and blamed, blindly disregarding it was they who were accountable to the God of their salvation. (Exodus 14:21-31; 15:22-27)
This tendency, even with biblical examples proving the opposite, continues with God’s people through the centuries. In Jesus’s time, the worldly mindset failed to see human interactions as relating to Christ. Even today, only those who embrace their image-bearing and do all as unto Jesus grasp every aspect of life in reference to Him. (Matthew 25:34-45)
Are we in this habit of marginalizing Christ in our post-Sunday living? What do habits of complaining, criticism, and snippy, impatient, graceless treatment of others reflect about our attitude toward God? Do we comprehend that as His representatives here on earth, everything we do is done for or against Him? Are we so narrow and selfishly-focused that we don’t consider how our decisions affect or reflect Him? How will we insert the Lord and His glory into the equation of our everyday interactions and choices? What will we do to permeate our mindset and motivations with His greatness and worth? How will we adjust our motivations to align with Christ’s and His delight? (Luke 11:23; Colossians 3:23-24)
“All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed pow’rs,
all my thoughts and words and doings,
all my days and all my hours.
Let my hands perform his bidding,
let my feet run in his ways;
let my eyes see Jesus only,
let my lips speak forth his praise.
Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
so enchained my spirit’s vision,
looking at the Crucified.” ~Mary D. James (1810-1883)
Lord, redirect my thinking and desire to hold high Your worth and worthiness.
As the rain and snow 