Friday, May 22, 2009

Today's Passage: Numbers 10-11

In Chapter 10, the Israelites, following the presence of God in the cloud, set out from one desert to another. This place they were living is one of the harshest environments I've ever seen. They were having to trust God for everything. Food was being provided through manna every day. God would lead them to water (or in some cases, have water come out of a rock!) He provided the direction through the pillar of fire and cloud of smoke. They had to completely trust in Him, and every time He provided.

But Chapter 11 tells us that the "rabble"...did you notice that word the first time you read it?...the rabble were complaining about the way God provided. They were not complaining that God wasn't providing, but were actually complaining about the manner of God's provision! They were longing for those "free" fish, veggies, and fruits they remembered so fondly. Somehow they'd forgotten about the slavery and the cruelty of Pharoah, but they did remember free cucumbers! So God provides quail for them...but at a great price, as we see at the end of the chapter.

We like to read these kinds of stories in scripture and point the finger at those involved. It's easy to say they were wrong and easy to say we'd never do such a thing. But how many times has God provided...in ways we realize or we don't...and we've complained about the provision? We may be trapped in what seems to be a hopeless situation and God provides the way out or the way to sustain through the trouble...but if it's not an easy solution, or if it's a hard road to walk, will we turn around and complain to other people about the answer? Would we rather try to make it out on our own? Would we rather turn back to a state of hopelessness? Or will we trust in God that His way is perfect, even if it makes no earthly sense to us?

I was reading this morning in I Samuel about Saul's downfall as king. The prophet Samuel told him that disobeying God...being in rebellion towards Him...is like the sin of divination. It's like going to a fortune teller or an evil spirit to tell you the future instead of listening to the voice of truth. He told him that arrogance...thinking your way is better than God's...is like the sin of idolatry. Do we realize that when we seek another way, we're putting ourselves ahead of God?

God, I'm sorry for the times I don't trust in your provision. You are trying to help me, and I put myself ahead of You. Please forgive my arrogance and help me know Your way is best, even if it seems difficult to me.