WORDS

Related imageOh my! The Hebrews have probably been encamped for a long season and now they are up and moving.  "Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them His anger was aroused."  I wonder is there someplace special we can go to complain where an ALL-KNOWING, EVER-PRESENT,ALL-SEEING AND ALL-HEARING GOD cannot hear our complaints?  God's anger was so aroused that He allowed fire to burn among and "consume some of the outskirts of the camp."  I get it, the people are weary, they desire something more than the manna to eat.  It may have been called the food of the angels, but in Hebrew, it means, "What is it?"  Reading Exodus and Numbers, it has been a long 40 years of whining, complaining, ungratefulness, and occasionally, some rejoicing. I remind you again that Moses and Aaron are hearing the complaints from among a million or so people.  

Complaining/murmuring is the Hebrew picture of mourning.  Not a healthy grieving with hope in a death, but mourning for what "used to be", not having it, and if I can't be happy, then no one else has the right to be happy. Complaints usually have an ugly attitude in expression to give it energy.  Our words have the power to bring life or to bring death to the hearer. Proverbs 18:21. We are encouraged in Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart to God."  If I am willing to catch my complaint before it spews out the mouth, I can instead "Humble myself, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift me up in due time.  Cast all my anxiety/distraction/cares on Him because He cares for me.  Your enemy,the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:6-8

Please note, stuffing the complaint is not being encouraged, but rather "frisk" the complaint and check out the emotions tied to it. Does it have authentic validity?  This is the humbling of myself to God.  Have I taken my complaint to God and asked for His wisdom in how to express without negativity to the hearer?  This is the casting of my care on Him.  How we must heed the words of Peter " be self-controlled and alert"...the devil prowls and it is usually at our doors listening and seeing if we can be his next tasty meal.  Oh Lord, cause my words today to be life words!  #IHAVE THREESONS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh...
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress...
Read more

SPENDING MONEY ON WHAT DOES NOT SATISFY

Image
    Have you ever noticed that the object you purchased which you thought would thrill your heart has instead been a great disappointment?  In reading Isaiah 55, a question is put forth by Isaiah: "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?"  In contrast, Isaiah mentions several thoughts which will bring satisfaction:  Come to the Lord as Savior and Lord in salvation.  To make that choice requires no money, and the invitation is an open invite...ya'll come! It requires a willingness to receive the invitation. Coming to Him, we can experience our soul, (mind, will, and emotions) to be nourished and nurtured.  His thoughts and ways are the highest in quality for our spiritual welfare, and we can align our mindset to His purposes for us. His every spoken or written Word will accomplish what He has purposed.  Promise made; Promise kept!  Our obedience to His Word is encouraged.   The result of r...
Read more