Numbers 11:4-9
The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”
Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it; and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil. When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.
The Israelites had just been delivered from a cruel slavemaster by the Might and Power of the Living God. These people had witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, the drowning of Pharoah’s army and the plagues in Egypt. They had gone through the waters, a symbol of baptism- to leave the past behind and to move into a new life serving the One and True God.
After their baptism, they began to complain. Their complaints were rooted in greed. Like many of us today, they knew about the Power of God; in fact, they saw it. Yet they were so rooted in the culture of Egypt, that they could not see God. The scales were on their eyes and blinded them to the provision and beauty of God.
In other words, their complaints were rooted in their attempt to overthrow the will of God in providing manna, and replacing it with the gods of their own heart. Instead of serving God as He commanded, they wanted to serve God the way they knew- according to Egyptian culture, religious ideas and thoughts.
Many of our complaints today are rooted in our cultural deceptions. Deceptions about self, wealth, belonging. Seldom do we fast and prayer for the will of God in our lives. Like the Israelites, we have been deceived by the god of the age. Having walked through Baptism, we do not walk in gratitude but rather in greed- seeking to fill our bellies and our pockets. Rather than seeking the Kingdom first and the promises of God for the salvation of others, we seek the promises of God for ME.
WHAT CAN GOD DO FOR ME?
WHY AM I NOT WEALTHY- I GIVE MY OFFERINGS?
WHY AM I STILL SICK?
WHY AM I GOING THROUGH SO MUCH TROUBLE AND ADVERSITY?
To serve God, we begin with a spirit of gratitude- Giving Thanks and remembering the place, the position, and the damnation from where God has delivered us. We REMEMBER. And we wholeheartedly GIVE THANKS.
Lay aside the “Leek and Onion” attitudes and simply give thanks for God’s provision, His protection, His deliverance daily….. just give thanks for GOD. Where would we be without the salvation and the deliverance of our God? Gratitude is the key to entering into the presence of God. Psalm 100:4: Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Be Grateful
CASTIN-GRACE 