Discontent In Excess
“Then the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people stayed at Kadesh. Now Miriam died there and was buried there. There was no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, ‘If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!
“’Why then have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness, for us and our beasts to die here? Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us in to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, nor is there water to drink.’” Numbers 20:1-5
“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” Deuteronomy 8:7-10
The pomegranates mentioned in these verses represent the choicest of special treats in the Israelite diet. They also represent the divine presence of God and recognise His provision, which is why they were specified and carefully crafted in the temple.
I suppose, most of us have wondered how God’s people could complain when they faced hardship after being freed from a lifetime of slavery, after seeing the Red Sea part, after eating their fill of manna and quail, after watching God’s miraculous leading through the vastness of the desert before them.
Looking ahead after thinking about the past can be paralysing. The Israelites had been treated cruelly as slaves and yet, faced with change, they rebelled and complained and longed for the way it used to be.
Yet, God is ever steadfast, never changing. He works tirelessly to remind His children of their purpose in His plan – to ‘grow us up’ more into the image of His beloved Son (II Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:15) – even while we long for what we once had.
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Take care with love, especially His, from Darlene, who still prays for you each day.
PS: You can also find the devotions on line/ on your mobile phone here: www.weakdaydevotion.com .
NOTES: I choose to believe the Bible because it's a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They reported supernatural events that took place before, of specific prophecies; and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.
The Five Solas: Individuals are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone to the glory of God alone!
Find my full statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of Bible studies). For the books, go to Amazon books. For prayer requests/ updates, email: darlenerichard@gmail.com