Dear Family,
Today is Friday, May 24,2024. It is Day 27 and Day 6 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.
Have you ever wondered about the expectations of the ancient Israelites? Just what did they expect? Their expectations must have been quite out of line with God‛s plan.
God intended one set of events, but Israel must have had their own agenda. And, clearly, they did not want to do without, even briefly. And, clearly, they did not want to humble themselves to ASK God for anything. They were a grumbling bunch. Consider the following verses.
Exodus 16:1-2 (1) And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. (2) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
Perhaps the people could not see accusing God directly, but they had no problem criticizing Him indirectly by complaining about Moses and Aaron. They had already done this at Marah.
Exodus 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
But this complaint against Moses and Aaron was clearly understood by God and His servants.
The murmuring was against God. Compare the two verses in Exodus 16.
Exodus 16:2, 8 (2) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: (8)(B) for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against Him: and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
They could not fool God. No one can. We are directed to cease from all murmuring and complaining. It‛s hard, I know because we are still vulnerable human beings, but God wants His Spirit, not a complaining one, to lead us.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
David recognized the evil in what he had done in the “matter of Uriah.” Yes, it affected humans, but David knew something else very special about how God views sin.
Psalm 51:4(A) Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight:
David knew sin was against God. Murmurings and disputings are, also.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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